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APC Caretaker Committee Gets Another Six Months Extension

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Again due to some lingering internal crisis, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended the tenure of its Caretaker Committee.

The Committee, headed by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has its tenure extended by another six months.

The Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee was initially constituted and given six months mandate to put in place new set of National Working Committee members.

The first tenure extension for six months, expired on Friday. This is the second.

The Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to Gov. Buni, Mamma Mohammed confirmed the tenure extension in a statement on Friday.

The Caretaker Committee was put together on June 25, 2020, following the sack of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the party, by a court.

This is the second time that the tenure of the Caretaker committee will be extended.

The tenure extension caught some stakeholders unawares as they had started to inaugurate Committees that  expected to work with the National body for the conduct of Congresses at all levels of the party.

In Ekiti state, the APC on Friday inaugurated an Electoral Committee to oversee the forth coming Congresses.

The seven-member Committee, is headed by the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission,  Chief Samuel Abejide and has Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade, representating the women folk as secretary.

Other members are Chief Abiodun Aluko, Bashorun Odetola, Alhaji Babatunde Onipede, Hon Akindele Femi, and Hon Adumo Sunday.

The Chairman of the Party, Barrister Paul Omotoso performed the inauguration ceremony at the party Secretariat in Ado Ekiti.

The Chairman  announced that the  committee would assist members of the National Congress Committee assigned to the state to monitor and coordinate congresses in the state.

The Electoral Committee will also ensure that the congresses are hitch free and successful.

Chief Omotoso, while enumerating the importance of the assignment, charged the Committee members to be above board and show commitment.

Tinubu Warns Against Nigeria’s Break Up

By
Bayo Bernard
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Bola Tinubu and EFCC Case

By Tosin Olatokunbo

A former Lagos State governor and ruling All Progressives Congress, APC  stalwart Bola Tinubu has reinforced the need for Nigeria to remain an indivisible, unity country.

The former governor who is also the National Leader if APC, and has been rumoured to have presidential ambition, said Nigeria will scale through its current challenges.

He said aggrieved Nigerians should come together and talk on how to move the nation forward, rather than call for the outright break up of the country. He eruled out the separation of the country.

Tinubu disclosed this at the democracy lecture organised by the Nigerian Youth Congress organised in Abuja, the nation’s capital, with the theme “Nigerian Democratic System and Good Governance: The Journey So Far.”

According to him “Nigeria seats at a crucial junction. Do we advance by doing what is right or do we stagnate by settling for what is easy?

“Our nation’s journey is one of continuous struggles. We have struggled many times, yet never shall we fall. We are Nigerians and shall remain so.

“Of course, much work needs to be done. But it is time to recognise the points at which we fight ourselves. It is one that demands further reforms and evolution.

“We need to continue to transform and improve so that we perfect good and effective governance in Nigeria for all citizens,” Tinubu said.

Represented by James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, Tinubu urged Nigerian youths to work together to solve the nation’s problems.

He said the youths must find a way to work with the nation’s political leaders on how to chart a positive way forward at this auspicious time.

Tinubu said “Our youths are the engine by which our future and protection will be powered. Our journey till date will be further defined by your efforts and actions. This journey should not and cannot be a destructive process.

“We must manage the necessary change in a peaceful and democratic manner and ensure the continued unity of our nation, its people, and collective potentials.

“To perfect good and effective government is not going to come solely from the Nigerian elites. It will virtually come from the youths.

“This is not a time for you to falter. It’s a time for you to stand up and help push this great nation forward. It is time for Nigeria to evolve,” he said.

Buhari Appoints New Shipper’s Council Boss

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Orji James

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Emmanuel Jime as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC.

The Council is one of the government agencies in the maritime sector, headed by Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport.

Jime, the Benue state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC  in the 2019 election will replace Hassan Bello, the outgoing ES of the Council.
Hassan Bello
Bello: Outgoing Executive Secretary

 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Shehu said the appointment of Jime is for a four-year tenure and renewable.

“Mr Jime, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law, brings his wealth of experience to the new role having distinguished himself in several public offices.

“He was at a time Managing Director at the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Makurdi/Guma Federal constituency in Benue State between 2007 and 2015, and Speaker of the State House of Assembly from 1992 to 1993,” said the statement.

Jime contested the governorship under the APC but lost to incumbent, Samuel Ortom.

Buhari Postpones London Trip, Receives Okowa’s Senator, Nwaoboshi, From PDP To APC

By
Ayodele Oni
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Buhari receives Nwaoboshi

By Ayodele Oni

The medical follow-up visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Kingdom earlier scheduled for today, Friday, June 25, 2021, has been postponed.

Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr Femi Adesina said in a statement that a new date for the trip will be announced in due course.

It is not known why Mr President postponed, but the announcement of the trip was greeted by strong criticisms from not a few people. They described the timing as inappropriate, considering that Nigeria’s Association of Resident Doctors, had given a notice of strike action over the many inadequacies in the medical system.

It was also feared that in the UK, the President could be met by protests organised by a group of Nigerians led by Reno Omokri. During his last visit to the UK, the Group met him with huge protests.

In another statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, President Buhari welcomed Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The  Sentor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Welcoming him, the President told him: “You are welcome to the progressives family.’’

Sen. Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North District, was presented to President Buhari and the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) at the State House by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The Deputy Senate President said Senator Nwaoboshi’s decision to join the APC clearly showed that the effort of the CECPC was yielding fruit.

The implications of Nwaoboshi’s defection are in two- folds. First, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, is now being represented by an APC Senator as both of them hail from the same Senatorial Zone.

Second, the APC now has two Senators in Delta State against PDP’s one Senator.

Senator Nwaoboshi was suspended a few days ago by the PDP, for inexplicably publicly criticising the Governor. What the PDP did not know was that the criticism was a prelude to his leaving the party.

Penultimate week, Nwaoboshi was discharged and acquitted of multi-million corruption charges filed against him in the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Proposed Federal Health University In Ekiti Gets FG’s Nod

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Vice-president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has assured that the proposed University of Health Sciences, for Iyin Ekiti, would materialize before the exit of the Buhari administration.

The bill for the proposed University, sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, has passed through second reading in the senate.

Prof Osinbajo spoke when he received a delegation of Iyin Ekiti community, led by Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye that visited him in Abuja.

The Vice President congratuled the community for having a special breed of citizens, who were resolutely committed to the development of the town.

He described the concept behind the bill for the establishment of the institution as progressive in nature and with a strong prognosis to scale the hurdles at the Senate.

“I promise my total support for the actualisation of the two bills at the crucial stage.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will always support any stride that will add value to our people and we believe that education is one pivotal aspect through which we can make positive impacts in the lives of the Nigerian populace.”

In a statement made available to the media in Ado Ekiti, Senator Bamidele, explained that the delegation visited the Vice President, to canvass his support for the actualisation of the dream.

“Apart from this, they equally made rapport with Osinbajo on the bill to rename Federal University, Oye-Ekiti after General Adeyinka Adebayo.”

President Mohamadu Buhari had made announcement to rename the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, after the former Western Region Governor, General Adeyinka Adebayo, at his funeral in 2017.

Other members of the delegation were Minister Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Iyin-Ekiti quarter Chiefs; President, Iyin Progressive Federal Union (IPFU), represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Health, Pastor Akinjide Akinleye; first professor of Architecture in Nigeria and Africa, Prof. Adeyinka Adeyemi; Iyin Ekiti Youth Forum (IYF) President, Com. Abayomi Ogundipe and IYF Treasurer, Com. Ganiyu Lateef.

The statement added that “today, the Iyin-Ekiti delegation to the Senate Public hearing on the proposed University of Health and medical sciences, Iyin Ekiti met with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at his office in Abuja.

“The delegation canvassed the support of the Vice-president for the two bills of great importance to Iyin Ekiti community and the state at large.

“The team informed the Vice-president that both bills had passed the second reading at the Senate and urged him to lend his support at the necessary level.”

How Top Music Icons, Ruggedman And 9ice Ended Age-long Rift

By
Akinwale Kasali
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'Gongo Aso' crooner, Abolore Akande, popularly known as 9ice, and Nigerian rap Star, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, have ended their age long rift.

By Akinwale Kasali

‘Gongo Aso’ crooner, Abolore Akande, popularly known as 9ice, and Nigerian rap Star, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, have ended their age long rift.

The duo had parted ways for years following allegations levelled against Ruggedman by 9ice of having an affair with his former wife and mother of Zion, his first Son, Tony Payne.

On several occasions the duo had sang songs to mock each other since the allegation, leading to the  breakup of Payne and 9ice.

Ruggedman and 9ice were one time best of friends in the industry, both singing together in the song, “Opomulero”, that was the toast of town then.

9ice often times regarded  Ruggedman as one of his backbones that made him a success in life. But, the Ohafia, Abia State born Ruggedman separated from 9ice following the allegation.

However, the duo were reunited at the 50th Birthday Celebration of Kunle Rasheed, a veteran Society Media personality at Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Both 9ice and Ruggedman performed to the delight of the crowd, as they both dished out songs from their archives to the admiration of guests present, who shared in the nostalgic moment.

After their performance, both were seen taking selfies with their teeming fans, as they even exchanged banters, putting an end to the speculation  that they were still at loggerheads.

Dignitaries from all walks of life graced the birthday gig of Rasheed, as Captain of industries, Government Officials, the Media and Nollywood Stars were present.

The birthday party saw the celebrant launching a Book titled, “Not Born With  A Silver Spoon”,to commemorate his day.

The Chief Launcher of the Book was the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile.

Rendering solemn and captivating songs was the King of Fuji Music, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, KWAM 1, with delirious voice that sent guests into frenzy.

Lagos: Brickbat Hits PDP, As Party Remains Polarised, Disjointed

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The power tussle rocking the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has escalated, putting the Party on the brink of Collapse.

Tuesday’s High Court ruling in Lagos, that sacked Adedeji Doherty as the State Chairman of the Party, reinstating Dominic Adegbola as the Party’s Chairman, has further polarised the Party, causing a clash of interest among  Party leadership and members.

Justice Oyekan Abdullahi, delivering judgement in suit No: LD/3600/GCM/2019 DR DOMINIC ADEGBOLA & ORS. V. PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY & ORS. filed by Dominic Adegbola, said the judgement was delivered in favour of the Claimants.

The Court said it considered the Preliminary Objection filed by the 1st -6th defendants, and dismissed them for lack of merit.

“Consequently, the Court considered the merit of the case canvassed by all the parties. The Court held that the positions sought to be filled at the special election were not vacant. Also, the Court held that the argument that the 1st Claimant, Dr. Dominic held the office of the State Chairman of PDP for 90 days has no place in the Constitution of PDP.

“The Court further held that the 1st Claimant was duly appointed to serve out the term of his predecessor who resigned.”

Justice Abdullahi stated that the “Claimant’s failure to utilize internal dispute mechanism is not accidental as the Defendants frustrated same. The Court relied on the attempt made by the 1st Claimant when he wrote a letter to the National Chairman of the party and the letter was rejected. This fact was not contradicted by the Defendants”.

The Court said it further held that “all the conditions precedent to conduct election into the party’s offices were not followed and that the NWC of the party had no power to conduct state and local government congresses. Also, the special congress must fail as there was no guideline from the NEC of the party.

“Furthermore, the Court held that no notice of the special congress was forwarded to INEC as required by the Electoral Act.

“In sum, the case of the Claimants succeeds completely. The special congress held on 13th November, 2019, was set aside and there were no vacancies in the first place.

“In addition, the Court further held that the Defendants’ act of conducting the special congress despite a subsisting order of the Court prohibiting same is contemptuous”.

However, since the judgment was delivered, there have been  brickbats between the Chairman of Lagos State Elders Committee of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Bimbo Ogunkelu, and PDP South West General Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran.

Ogunkelu said that the party will appeal the Court judgment that sacked Doherty as Lagos State Chairman and reinstated  Adegbola, stating that the party in Lagos will get a stay of execution and challenge the lower court’s judgment at the Appeal Court.

“We don’t accept that judgment. How can a properly carried out congress be set aside by a court because some people are not happy?

“It is a miscarriage of justice and we will go to the Appeal Court. We don’t understand how the judge came to that conclusion; that is why we will appeal.”

The party’s elders committee was solidly behind Doherty.

“I am the Chairman of the Elder’s Committee and we don’t understand why the two groups were lumped together, however, what happened at the court does not stop the party from uniting and working together,” he said.

In a swift reaction to Ogunkelu’s Statement, Owokoniran lambasted him, saying that it is so pathetic that Ogunkelu could utter such statement, stressing that Ogunleku did not read the judgment. And that if he read it, he failed to understand the issues.

According to Owokoniran, Ogunkelu did not contradict Bukola Saraki at the two reconciliation meetings he presided over in Lagos, when Saraki said that the Congress that produced Doherty was illegal and that it should not have taken place.

“Secondly, Dr. Ogunkelu was at the Congress that produced Dr Dominic, who contested the state chairmanship position with Chief Apena, Kunle Okunola and Elder Agbaje.

“Chief Apena was disqualified because he was not from Lagos West senatorial district. Dr Dominic emerged the winner from the Congress. Dr. Ogunkelu and Deji Doherty were in attendance.

“Ogunkelu apparently had not read the judgment before this reaction. Because he completely veered off the court ruling on the matter.

“The issue of a letter being raised by Dr. Ogunkelu was not relevant in this matter because according to Dr Saraki it should not have arisen.

“The Court, of course, shares the same view when it said that the Congress that produced Deji Doherty should not have taken place.

“Ogunkelu needs to put his reputation behind the facts and make reconciliation possible as an elder statesman.

“Putting himself in front of this distortion of facts at this point in time is mind-boggling. It is very important that PDP continues to enjoy the reconciliation and peace that Saraki’s reconciliation committee and leaders of the party have successfully gained without unnecessary distractions.

“PDP as a whole has serious work of salvaging the nation at hand”.

It would be recalled that after the sack of Doherty by the Court, the Zonal leadership of the party in a congratulatory statement titled: “The entire South-West leaders-victory at last.

“We celebrate the glory of the Lord in our life as the truth, finally reigns supreme in judgment.

“We pray that the rest of the cases left in the South-West in particular and the nation, in general, shall vindicate us.

“Now that the court has spoken, let’s allow peace to reign so we can build the party in unity,” the South West PDP Zone of party said in a statement.

Dream Comes True As 1994 Super Eagles Squad Gets House Allocation Gift

By
Ayodele Oni
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Super Eagle Tunisia 1994

By Ayodele Oni

Twenty nine years after, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved allocation of a  three bedroom house for each member of  the Super Eagles Squad that won the African Cup of Nations in Tunis, Tunisia, in 1994. I’m doing that, the President made real a promise by the Federal Government.

Garba Shehu, a Presidential Spokesman, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the statement, the approval was a follow up to a memo from the Ministry of Works and Housing.

The statement reads:

“Following a memo by Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the President approved the allocations in their states of preference, noting that six players and three technical crews received their houses already.

“The players are: Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, Ike Shorounmu, Uche Okechukwu, Samson Siasia, Efan Ekoku, Sunday Oliseh, Benedict Iroha, and Isaac Semitoje.”

Others are Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Eguavoen and Wilfred Agbonavbare (Deceased).

Also benefiting are Uche Okafor (Deceased), Thompson Oliha (Deceased), Stephen Keshi (Deceased), Christian Chukwu, Dr Akin Amao, Stephen Edema, Col. A Asielue and B. Aromasodun.

OPINION: Mr President, Restructuring is the only way to save Nigeria

By
The Source
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By Bode George

I write to our President and Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces Muhammadu Buhari as a former junior General on his recent statement about restructuring.

My position here is without partisan or ethnic intimations. I bear no sectarian toga. My resolve is purely on the need to prevent the violent dissolution of the Nigerian entity.

It will be wrong and even cynical for anyone to pretend that the present Nigerian structure is smooth and without flaws. On the contrary the very skewed structures are provoking everywhere the glaring indices of terror and widening chaos. From Sokoto to Calabar, from Jigawa to Delta, from Borno to Rivers- the Nigerian -state is sinking deeper into loose banditry and general uncertainties.

Virtually everyone is vulnerable. There are no safe havens anymore. The present policing architecture is obviously unsuitable to modern threats and challenges. Policing can no longer be centralized. This is one of the cardinal points why restructuring of the Nigerian state is important.

Power has to be loosened at the center for the survival of this very fragile union. The states must be constitutionally empowered to determine their growth and development.

We cannot all be held down by an overarching unitary system which stunts merit and halts individual progress and initiatives.

Nigeria can only survive when the states can prosecute their individual vision, explore their God -given resources at their own pace without the intrusion of the central organ.

The states are suffocated, stifled, hindered and cluttered by inimical constitutional constraints that are savaging to developmental enlightenment. We are a nation of nations whose innate diversities should be cultivated as our collective advantages.

Where we have disparate visions, where we we have contradicting values, we can steer towards a unifying compromise without anyone being elbowed out . We can reconcile on the peace table without recourse to sectional triumphalism which invariably fans the embers of violence.

A nation can only be sustained on the platform of equity and fairness and not when some sections of our society feel fettered and squeezed out of the national equation.

While I will never support a violent dissolution of the country, i am a strong proponent of a very loose, tight and elastic union where each state can freely assert itself without any overbearing intrusion from an outsider, where the indices of economic advancement are devolved to the states, where policing are enforced as local matters, where natural resources are controlled by state organs and where the collective wealth of a state are sustained and steered towards the development of each state .

That is not the case now. The subsisting situation is an aberrant unitary constitution which flames anger and distrust, prompting many fissiparous actors who feel that the union has disadvantaged a large section of our society to canvass a separatist agenda.

But this is hardly a redeeming solution. An angry resort to a dissolution hardly ends in harmony. It often leads to the grim path of war. Surely this is not what we want. A progressive and graduated restructuring of the union , mandated at the peace table, will strengthen the bonds of our Union, rouse individual competitiveness, encourage the stirring of merit, widen our collective economic growth, galvanize the fields of industry, encourage initiatives and ultimately enhance the national harmony.

To remain on this same spot, to refuse to acknowledge that our nation needs to rectify the glaring wrongs through a new progressive , fair and equitable constitutional arrangement will be to scoff at reality and postpone a more compelling and inevitable chaos which nobody wants . History would be more kind to President Buhari should he choose to align with the popular clamor for a devolution of powers and a progressive restructuring of the Nigerian- state.

Bode George, a retired Navy Commodore, is the Atona Odua of Yorubaland.

Again, President Buhari Goes To London For Medical Checkup

By
Ayodele Oni
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President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

For the second time this year, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari is travelling to the United Kingdom on medical grounds.

This news which has been received with mixed reactions by Nigerians was broken on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in a Press  Release.

According to Adesina, Buhari is expected to depart the country on Friday, June 25, 2021, for London, the United Kingdom (UK), for a scheduled medical follow-up.

He also disclosed that the President is expected back in the country in the second week of next month.

This will be the second medical trip to be embarked upon by President Buhari this year.

Said the statement:

“President Muhammadu Buhari will proceed to London, the United Kingdom on Friday, June 25, 2021, for a scheduled medical follow-up.

“He is due back in the country during the second week of July, 2021.”

The President had left the country for a medical check-up in London earlier in the year, between March 30 and April 16, 2021.

During the trip, a number of Nigerians, led by Reno Omokri, had descended on London, to protest his presence. For days, they were on the streets demanding for his departure  from London to Nigeria. They asked him to go and get treated in Nigeria, saying it was a shame that he had not built and equipped any hospital in Nigeria to take care of his health.

A Presidential Aide had said that Buhari had retained the same Doctors long before he became Nigeria’s President, and was not about to ditch him just because he became President.

But many Nigerians worry about the cost to Nigerian tax payers, and insist Buhari had strongly condemned medical trips abroad and had campaigned using it as one of the things he would put a full stop to.

It is not known if the Omokri group would descend on London again over this visit.

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