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2019: The Untold Story of President Buhari’s Visits to Calabar, Abakaliki; Why He Went to Ebonyi First

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The Source
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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Party insiders have informed this magazine that save for deft moves by strategic thinkers in the party, President Muhammadu Buhari would have met empty stadia Wednesday, January 30th, 2019, during APC’s presidential rallies in Abakaliki and Calabar, capitals of Ebonyi and Cross River states respectively.

The Source learnt that the initial plan of the APC presidential campaign council was to hold the rally first in Calabar before proceeding to Abakaliki. This allegedly was the reason the President arrived the Cross River state capital early. However, upon arrival, words got to the organizers about the scanty crowd at the UJ Esune stadium, venue of the rally.

To allow time for the arrival crowds alleged to have been hired from neighboring Akwa-Ibom and Benue states, it was thus decided that the President proceeded to Abakaliki first where frantic efforts at sourcing for crowds had culminated in the successful co-opting of hawkers on the streets into the welcoming party as well as renting of crowd from the near-by Enugu.

Returning to Calabar later in the day, the alleged hired Akwa-Ibom and Benue Crowds had joined already waiting Cross River party supporters in the stadium to make it capacity-filled. However, the campaign train and the cheering crowd were jolted when President Buhari handed the Cross River APC gubernatorial flag to former PDP Senate Majority leader, Senator Ndoma Egba, instead of Senator John Owan Enoh, the governorship candidate.

Uguru Usani: Fights on
Uguru Usani: Fights on

This was despite the fact that Senator Enoh was standing right beside the President. Bemused and flustered, Senator Egba who is angling to return to the Senator and now APC senatorial candidate for Cross River Central, quickly showed Senator Enoh to Buhari. While President Buhari was handing over the governorship flag to the wrong person, supporters of Senator Enoh and Niger- Delta Minister, Pastor Uguru Usani engaged in a bloody show of might outside the stadium. At the end of the melee scores of people from both sides sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Senator Enoh and Pastor Usani are both claimants to the Cross River APC governorship ticket. Campaign posters and banners of both men with Buhari and vice President Osinbajo saturated in and around the stadium with their supporters separately singing their praises. The two APC bigwigs lead factions of the party in the state. The national leadership of the party as well as INEC however recognizes Senator Enoh as APC’s gubernatorial candidate.

The Minister insists he is the rightful candidate and is optimistic that sooner than later, he will retrieve the ticket from his rival.

Meanwhile, APC chieftains in Ebonyi and Cross River who spoke to this magazine have denied crowds were rented for the party’s presidential rallies in both states. “You can see that PDP is intimidated and desperate. The crowd that welcomed Mr. President at Abakaliki was beyond their imagination and comprehension hence the invention of the defeatist story of renting supporters”, an Ebonyi APC stalwart told The Source.

Buhari Dragged to International Criminal Court, ICC

By
The Source
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By Uche Mbah

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election in the 2019 general elections, has been dragged to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The case was filed on behalf of unnamed Nigerians by Goran Sluiter, a Professor of International and Criminal Law in the University of Amsterdam.

In an interview with an American Television station, Newsmax TV, monitored in Lagos, Sluiter said that Buhari is suspected to have committed a crime against Humanity.

“In this Issue, I am representing some clients in Nigeria, and we have submitted, last week, a criminal complaint to the International Criminal Court regarding this presidential Candidate’s behavior” he said. According to him, There is “clear and consistent evidence that during the last elections, 2011 this Candidate incited to violence against the supporters of other candidates and this has resulted in 800 persons being killed and 65,000 persons being displaced. Even according to African context, African standards, these are massive crimes and this person should be held accountable for these crimes. My clients are seeking Justice for the victims of 2011, but we also hope it will have a deterrent effect for the upcoming elections in a couple of weeks.”

Sluitter had cited one of the cases where people ran to a police station to take refuge and were murdered even in the home of law enforcement agents.

This is coming on the heels of the face off between the international community and theAll Progressives Congress, APC, led central Government. In recent times, Buhari has been under international pressure over the goings on in the country as the general elections approach.  International observers from the European Union, UK and US have indicated their interest in a free and fair elections where the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are  seen to be non partisan.

Such pressures, however, may have resulted in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman dropping Amina Zakari, an INEC Commissioner, as the Commissioner in cbarge of logistics at the  Collation centre.  Mrs Zakari had been appointed to that position under controversial circumstances, with the opposition insisting that there is a clash of interest since Amina enjoys a family relationship with one of the major contenders for the Presidency, Muhammadu Buhari.

The International Community’s position was apparently in response to the complaints of the opposition which claim that facts on ground   indicate that  organs of government, including the Security may have been compromised.

But the ruling APC government insists that the international Community is meddling in the internal affairs of the country. According to the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Nigeria is a sovereign state, not a colony.

On his official website, it is indicated that Sluiter is a Dutch criminal defense lawyer based in Amsterdam, and also a professor in international criminal law at the University of Amsterdam. He has extensive experience in international criminal law having worked as a judge in international crimes cases in the Netherlands and for defense teams before the International Criminal Tribunal. He was involved in the case between the former Yugoslavian leader and the International Criminal Court.

Obasanjo, Again, Rejects Buhari

By
Oji Odu
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By Oji Odu

Why do Some Nigerians rage and imagine and say so many things, sometimes vain, against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whenever he says his mind on national issues or criticizes the government in power? Does he, like every other Nigerian not have the right to speech and constructive criticisms?

Why is the government in power always jittery whenever Obasanjo speaks? Does that mean that the former President is not really a spent selfish force as some claim? Are his words prophetic, such that quake the wits out of those they are against? The government of former President Goodluck Jonathan can attest to this. May be, this is the reason why the present administration has not slept since the Obasanjo onslaught against it.

Speaking at the Island Club Quarterly Business Lecture in Lagos, yesterday, Wednesday, January 30, 2019, Obasanjo drew comparisons between the two leading candidates in the upcoming presidential election on February 16, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and concluded that Atiku would be a good leader. This to him is because he has experience, exposure and has learnt his lessons well, of which he (Obasanjo) tried to teach him a few of them than Buhari.

“I’ve been called names because of my position on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri of Adamawa – my former Vice President. Those things that I have said, as far as my knowledge of Atiku is concerned, I stand firmly by them because they are to the best of my knowledge very true.

“And what I’ve said and written about Buhari are clearly true, and they’re not controverted, if anything, they have been confirmed and proved beyond any shadow of a doubt. Only two Sundays ago I said what I believe are understood as to the way the Buhari administration is going about the coming election. And within less than a week, things started showing itself. But, let us leave that because Nigerians are rising up to defend our fledgeling democracy, and to defend our future progress. Nobody else will do it for us. We have to do it for ourselves and that is why I believe that we have no better man to lead us out of the morass we are: morass in economic terms, the morass in security terms; morass even in international affairs terms.

“Atiku has done three things which are absolutely imperative for a leader to be followed and to be believed. First, a leader must know who he is and present himself as he is – a human being in blood and flesh, and susceptible to human mistakes and human frailties; don’t cover up with sanctimonious veneer of bogus integrity. Incorruptibility when you have corruption on your nose; uprightness when everything around you is crooked; goodness and false figures and statistics all of which are contrived to deceive, to cheat, to plunder and to destroy.

“Atiku never claimed to be a saint. (He turned to ask him if he had ever made the claim, and Atiku said no) And I never described him as such. I will never describe any human being alive, let alone calling him a messiah. On an occasion in the past, when I said that someone was not a messiah some Nigerians, out of bad belle were up in arms for me. But, as for me, as a Christian, the only Messiah I know and I serve is Jesus Christ.

“Secondly, a leader must be honest to himself and to the people he serves or he wants to serve. He must identify and acknowledge his situation, mistakes, shortcomings and inadequacy; show remorse where and when he has erred, seek forgiveness and repent; and not passing the bulk or keep blaming others and fail to accept responsibility. Atiku accepts responsibility for his mistakes, shows remorse and seeks forgiveness from his political party and subsequently from Nigerians.

“He asks for forgiveness from me and as a believer, a Christian as such, I forgave him in accordance with the teaching and instruction of my Saviour, ‘For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matt 6:14-15 NIV). If anybody blames me for forgiving Atiku, I leave such a person with God Almighty, especially as both Christian and Islamic clerics joined Atiku to visit me to seek forgiveness. Anybody who does not forgive when forgiveness is sought with contrite heart cannot be a true believer and should not expect the forgiveness of God.

“Thirdly, as a leader, you must understand the fundamentals of the problems you have to solve and be courageous, visionary and ready to reach out sufficiently to build a credible team of experts, knowledgeable men and women, concerned and interested citizens and non-citizens to work hard and tirelessly for solutions that will benefit all Nigerians and indeed Africans and humanity.

“He must have ability to build a credible team, lead them, listen to them and give them enough leeway to achieve and make meaningful contribution without abdicating his responsibility. He must be accessible to them. From my personal knowledge of Atiku, he has these qualities.

“I must reiterate that Atiku is not a saint and who is? But from what I know of Atiku, he will be a performer in all respects. I can say that again from my personal experience. He knows the problems and he handled some of them or similar and in the past,” Obasanjo said.

Atiku, who was the Guest Lecturer at the event, said he believes that the private sector must be allowed to drive the economy and provide jobs while the government provide enabling environment for business to thrive.

Beside Atiku, the lecture was attended by PDP stalwarts, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; the South-west leaders, Chief Bode George and  Gbenga Daniel, Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje.

Does Obasanjo mean that in the last four years of the President Buhari-led APC administration, the President has shown that he does not know himself, pretentious, does not understand the problems Nigerians voted him in to solve? Has President Buhari and his administration lived the holier than thou life, engaged in blame games instead of having the will to tackle problems?

But, at the APC campaign rally in Eboyi State, President Buhari reminded the people that he was not a corrupt person, and has never been convicted on any corruption issues.

Buhari was former Head of State (1983-85), governor of the defunct Northeastern State (1975–1976) and chairman Petroleum Trust Fund (1994-95) said: “I can assure you that I, as the President, today have never been in a position of abusing trust. As a governor of the whole six northeastern states, as minister of petroleum for over three years and as a former head of state. I was arrested, detained and investigated but they never found anything against me.”

In a chat with the Magazine, Sunday Egboh, a political analyst asked: “ Assuming he is not corrupt, what about the people running the government with him, some of who have shamelessly said openly that sins of sinners will be forgiven them if they joined the ruling APC?

“ Nigerians of today are different from those of yesterday. They don’t take-in everything anyone says without asking questions, although they are hungry and suffering,” he said.

It’s 16 days to the February Presidential election, who will it be, as the gladiators continue to align and realign in last minute efforts to take charge of Aso Rock?

 

Imo 2019: Outcome of Presidential Election To Decide Ihedioha, Uzodinma’s Fate

By
The Source
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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

The Source has learnt that the main gladiators in the March 2nd, 2019 gubernatorial election in Imo state are leaving all options open as to final alliance or alignment till after the presidential election on February 16, 2019.The winner of the presidential election, according to multiple sources who spoke to the magazine in Owerri, the state capital, will determine which of the main contenders eventually enjoys unassailable edge in the Imo guber contest.

In the meantime, the magazine was told that some elements of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s faction of APC in the state who are not cool with the governor’s preferred successor, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance, AA; some APGA chieftains who feel short-changed by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s emergence as the party’s gubernatorial candidate; and Senator Sam Daddy Anyawu’s PDP faction known as new PDP, have already aligned with Senator Uzodinma.

The calculation is that in the event of PDP presidential candidate,Atiku Abubakar’s victory, Senator Uzodinma, if he wins, will defect back to the party, rule for a term and yield office to Senator Anyanwu from Owerri senatorial zone, thus pacifying the zone after losing power to Orlu zone(that is, if Uzodinma who is from Orlu zone just like the outgoing governor, Okorocha, wins the election).

Emeka Ihedioha: Alliance in the offing?
Emeka Ihedioha: Alliance in the offing?

However, if President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC wins the presidential election, a slight change in the arrangement will take place. This magazine was informed that, in the event of Buhari’s victory, Senator Anyanwu, rather than Uzodinma, will do the defecting. That is to say, Senator Anyanwu who allegedly has been romancing the APC after losing the PDP governorship ticket to the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, will now openly declared for the party (APC).

Similarly, there are feelers that an Ihedioha-Okorocha-Araraume- Ikedi Ohakim(Accord Party’s governorship candidate) alliance will happen in the event of Buhari’s victory. Okorocha is said to be bruised and his ego badly deflated by the APC and the billionaire businessman turn politician has allegedly vowed to get back at the party.

The proverbial last straw that broke the Carmel’s back was President Buhari’s declaration in Owerri Tuesday during a campaign rally, that the APC and his presidential campaign are not in alliance with any party and urged party faithful to vote only APC candidates, including himself and Senator Uzodinma.

Okorocha who is APC’s senatorial candidate for Orlu zone, has been campaigning for AA candidates in the state, including his son-in-law and also for President Buhari on the ground that the party has adopted the president as its presidential candidate. Uche Nwosu left the APC, allegedly at Okorocha’s prompting after losing the party’s governorship ticket to Uzodinma.

The out-going Imo state governor is also reportedly pained that the national leadership of the party did not condemn the state chapter loyal to Senator Uzodinma, when it announced his suspension and subsequent expulsion for anti-party activities. Okorocha, it was gathered, believes that Uzodinma led- state chapter of the party is in cohort with the APC national leadership led by former Edo governor, Adams Oshomhole and that the former Edo governor is perfecting plans to ratify his expulsion.

To this end, the governor is said to be ready to sacrifice his son-in-law’s governorship ambition and his own senatorial ambition to ensure that the APC is defeated in the Imo governorship election.

Okorocha: Working against APC victory in Imo
Okorocha: Working against APC victory in Imo

The impending alliance with the PDP candidate, sources inform, will allegedly see Okorocha, Araraume and Ohakim secretly work for Ihedioha while equally engaging in a feeble campaign for their election. Apart from Okorocha’s bile against the APC, the three men are said to have agreed that in the present circumstance, natural justice demands that Owerri zone, personified by Ihedioha, be supported to produce the next governor, Orlu and Okigwe having been in the saddle in the last 20 years.

Meanwhile, Senator Uzodinma’s loyalists have dismissed the alleged alliance against their principal, describing it as dead on arrival. “They will gather and fail because onwa( Uzodinma) is ordained to rule Imo state, he is the next governor and there is nothing Okorocha and his gang of losers can do about it.”, said  Patrick Obinnakwere, one of the loyalists who described himself as “Hope Ambassador”, told this magazine at Orlu.

NJC: Why Onnoghen, Tanko, Umar May Lose Their Positions

By
The Source
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By Uche Mbah

With all issues pertaining to the Onnoghen saga converging back on the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the Supreme Court, feelers from informed quarters indicate that both Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, and the Buhari appointed Acting CJN, Mohamed Tanko,  may end up as losers. The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Dangiwa Umar, may also suffer the same fate end in this game of Russian Roulette.

Recall that the NJC sat Tuesday January, 29, and ruled that both the CJ Onnoghen, Acting CJN appointed  Mohamed, must answer to charges against them within one week. Normally, petitionees are given fourteen days to answer to the charges against them, but the NJC  said that the time frame had to be shortened because of the urgency of the situation.

During the sitting, Tanko and Onnoghen, who are both  members of the NJC, rescued themselves.

Cabbotage Law expert and Senior Advocate Of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, had petitioned NJC against Tanko, alleging that Tanko allowed himself to be used by the Executive arm of the government to breach the constitution while government accused Onnoghen of fraud in his Assets Declaration form.  Agbakoba also petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA against the continued trial of Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, citing the fact that it is usurping the functions of the NJC, thereby creating a constitutional crisis.

“Mr Umar’s misconduct has created a constitutional crisis and brought great embarrassment to the Legal profession,” he said. He also prayed the NBA to strike Umar’s name out of the list of Legal Practitioners in the Country.

Umar has since discontinued the case, citing Appeal Court ruling as reason.

 But Advocate for Peoples Rights and Justice, a human rights organization, has requested for a copy of Umar’s Asset declaration form, using the freedom of Information Law. But the Code of Conduct Bureau declined, insisting his asset declaration is his private property. This has fuelled in some quarters that he .may not not have  declared his assets.

The NJC trial may have two possible precautions. First, Tanko may go, if he cannot defend the allegation against him. The NJC may recommend his sack to the presidency. Whether the Presidency will approve is another issue. But if they sanction Onnoghen, they will have to recommend to the Senate which would  need a two-third majority to recommend his sack to the President.

 In this election frenzy, the Senate is unlikely to do that, since they want to resume after the January 16 elections. It means they have to wait for the incoming Senate to handle the case. But they are unlikely to recommend his sack, according to those in the know. So Onnoghen may still remain as the CJN.

Police: Lamorde Reappears As DIG

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Bayo Bernard

Since his departure as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2015 not much has been heard of Ibrahim Lamorde.

But the former EFCC boss has resurfaced in the list of newly promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG by Muhammed Adamu, the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP.

Following his promotion by President Muhammadu Buhari, Adamu has effected a major shake-up in the force.

Lamorde is among those promoted from the rank of commissioner of police to DIG.

The IGP had earlier sacked seven DIGs among them Joshak Habila who was the DIG in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, before his retirement from the Force last week.

Other DIGs forced out are Emmanuel Inyang, information and communications technology; Agboola Oshodi-Glover, logistics and supply; Mohammed Katsina, research and planning; Sani Mohammed, training and development; and Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, federal criminal investigation and intelligence.

Lamorde: Now DIG

There was initial speculation that the DIGs will not be sacked by the IG who is their junior in the Force.

Based on a convention in the Force, senior police chiefs are expected to proceed on retirement when an officer junior to them in service or lower in rank is appointed to lead the institution.

Apart from Lamorde,  Ogbizi Michael, former Abia State police commissioner has now been promoted DIG.

Those promoted from Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG to DIG are Usman Tilli Abubakar from Kebbi State,  Abdulmaji Ali from Niger State, Taiwo Frederick Lakanu from Lagos State who until his appointment is the Force Secretary and Godwin Nwobodo from Enugu State.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Law and Civil Culture, CLCC, a civil society group based in Lagos has condemned what it described as premature retirement of the DIGs.

The Executive Secretary of CLCC, Abduganeey Imran speaking to the magazine on the issue, said the federal government and Police Service Commission, PSC, the supervisory body in charge of promotion and appointment of police officers in the country, must end the convention that allows senior police officers to be retired prematurely.

One of the reasons Imran gave is that the country stand to lose when experienced officers are retired from the force when they have not attained the retirement age of 60 or the 35 years of service as stipulated by the Civil Service rules.

He said police officers should not be forced to retire when they have not committed any offence, adding that this is against their fundamental human rights.

House Overrides Buhari, Governors, Passes Minimum Wage Bill

By
Uche Mbah
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ByUche Mbah

The Federal House of Representatives have passed the minimum wage bill, pegging it at N30,000. President Buhari, bowing to the wish of the governors, had forwarded N27,000 to the house of Reps and the Senate for approval. The postponement of the Senate resumption date means that the House have to wait for the senate to resume for the harmonization.

The ad-hoc committee report was unanimously adopted by the house

The ad hoc committee report was considered clause by clause before being passed.

Ironically, the new minimum wage passed at N30,000 is equivalent to $82 at N350 per dollar. This is less than when the minimum wage was N18, but the exchange rate was N198 per dollar, where it amounted to $91.

The minimum wage has been under review by the Nigerian Labor Congress who have threatened strike on the issue several times, each time shelving the plan. In the wage proposal, companies that employ less than twenty five people were exempted from the bill. The House of reps retained the clause that gave that exemption.

The governors have insisted that they cannot pay the minimum wage of N30,000 but would prefer N27,000. The Nigerian Labor congress rejected that.

It is feared that if the bill is eventually passed into law, it may trigger a runaway inflation.

Onnoghen: Saraki’s Move Destabilizes the Presidency, APC Kicks

By
The Source
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By Uche Mbah

The move by Bukola Saraki, Senate President, to take the suspension, by President  Muhammadu Buhari, of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN  Walter Onnoghen to the Supreme Court took Nigerians and even the Presidency by surprise.

The suspension of CJ Onnoghen, resulted in outrage by lawyers and the civil society organizations, and words of caution from the International community.

The Senate  had announced that it was breaking its break and convening an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. The meeting, scheduled to hold on Tuesday 29th January 2019 was, however cancelled. Instead,  the Senate  decided to approach the Supreme Court for interpretation of whether the appointment of justice Tanko Muhammed as the CJ conforms with the letters of the law, move which sources said,  took the Presidency by suprise. The thinking was that the Senate would reconvene to enable APC Senators destabilise any move to discuss the issue, or indict the President.

In announcing the cancellation,  Yusuph Olaniyonu,  Saraki’s  spokesperson said:

“Following the filing of the case, the matter of the suspension of the CJN which is the main issue for which the Senate had planned to reconvene tomorrow, has become subjudice.

“Therefore, in line with the standing rules of the Senate not to debate issues that are already pending before the court, the reconvening of the Senate tomorrow has been put off. The previous adjournment of the Senate till February 19, 2019, stays.”

The APC Senate Caucus, however, dissociated its members from the suit, saying the Senate never met to take such a resolution.

“It has come to the notice of the Senate APC Caucus that the Senate has approached the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen by the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,”  Ahmed Lawan  Senate Leader said on behalf of the Senators under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress, APC. “For the records, the Senate never met to take such a resolution and at no time mandated anyone to approach the Supreme Court on this matter on its behalf. Consequently, the Senate APC Caucus dissociates itself from the said request for the legal interpretation of the suspension.”

But Saraki’s Adviser on new media, Olu Onemola, disagreed with him. According to Onemola, the Senate leadership met to discuss the issue.

“Please note: Issues like going to court on behalf of the Senate has never been a decision taken to the floor or plenary. It is a decision for the leadership of the Senate.The leadership consists of 10 members. The Senate President got the support or consent of a very good majority of the ten on the need to seek interpretation from the apex court.”

APC Senate caucus met with President Buhari behind closed doors on what is believed to be the Onnoghen case. Opposition leaders later alleged that the group was paid about a billion US dollars, and that plans were perfected for the impeachment of principal officers of the Senate and replace them with members of the Caucus. The Presidency has not responded to this allegation.

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA has rejected Justice Tanko Mohammed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, insisting that Justice Walter Onnoghen remains the CJ. As a protest against his appointment, the NBA declared a two-day nationwide boycott of Courts, starting from Tuesday 29th of January 2019. The boycott will end on Wednesday January 30th.

Onnoghen on his own has denied rumors of his resignation making  rounds on Social media, describing it as the handwork of mischief makers.

Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct tribunal, CCT, which started the whole crisis, has postponed the trial indefinitely, citing an Appeal Court judgement that insists that status quo be maintained.

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NJC: Why  Onnoghen, Tanko, Umar May Lose Their Positions

Lagos: Tinubu, Obasa Meet To Plot Ambode’s Fall

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Bayo Bernard

Former Lagos state governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not recovered from the shock of last APC governorship campaign rally in Lagos, where one of his trusted thugs and Treasurer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka Oluomo was stabbed and sustained serious injuries by rival members of the union.

The fracas occurred at the Skypower  Ground, Ikeja on January 7.

The APC National Leader, the magazine was told blamed Governor Akinwumi Ambode for that incident.

His anger against the governor, one time political ally reverberated on Monday in the state house of Assembly where the lawmakers muted the impeachment of the governor from office.

Since the lawmakers broached the plan yesterday, series of meetings have been held between ex-Governor Tinubu and Speaker Obasa on one hand, while Tinubu also met with other APC leaders at his Ikoyi home, sources told the magazine.

Also, the embattled Governor Ambode, the magazine learned have also met with his trusted aides on how to respond to the threat of impeachment by the state lawmakers.

During Monday plenary, the lawmakers raised several allegations against the governor among which is that he usurped the assembly power of appropriation.

The governor has refused to present the 2019 Budget proposal to the assembly in contravention of the constitution deadline of December 31, the lawmakers alleged.

The Speaker of the house, Mudasiru Obasa said of the allegation against the governor “He should explain to us why a budget that has not been laid was already being implemented by the government.”

They have given the governor and “ the commissioner of finance, Akinyemi Ashade, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Adeniji Kazeem and Commissioner For Budget and Economic Planning, Olusegun Banjo” seven days to appear before the house.

In case the governor failed to give cogent explanation for his action Speaker Obasa said yesterday “those that want the governor to be impeached should start collating signatures now for the exercise.”

This is not the first attempt to impeach the governor. The lawmakers had first attempted to do this late last year after a dissgreement between the governor and his godfather, Tinubu after the party failed to return Anbode as its governorship candidate.

The party had chosen Babajide Sanwoolu as its flag bearer in his place. But embattled Governor Ambode insists that his misfortune has the imprimatur of the APC Leader.

He has vouched secretly to work against the interest of the party.

This has become more so in the light of the fracas at the APC state rally where the NURTW chieftain was almost killed by another faction of the restive union.

Oluomo who’s now battling for his life at an undisclosed hospital is a trusted ally of former Governor Tinubu.

The NURTW chieftain and others are believed to be among those the APC had used in the past for ballot box snatching and other election practice during elections in the state.

‘As we speak, one APC leader told the magazine earlier today” options are being weighed on how to move him abroad for further treatment.

“His condition” another NURTW source said “remained unstable as we speak and there doubts in the party whether things will ever remain the same again for him.”

Tinubu and the ruling APC in the state cannot bear the pains that one of their trusted boys has been taken out of the picture ahead the general election starting next month.

Aside Ambode his erstwhile political son, Tinubu has also marked out the Lagos state Commissioner of police, Imohinmi Edgar for blame over the incident.

The consensus, therefore among APC big hats in the state is that the police commissioner did not provide enough cover for the NURTW thug when he was attacked by rival thugs.

Governor Ambode is very close to Imohinmi having attended the same university and he’s believed to have facilitated his deployment to the state as Commissioner of Police.

The duo of Ambode and Imohinmi, Tinubu and associates believed, had plotted to kill Oluomo to frustrate the party and reduce its chances in the governorship election, as pay back for denying the governor a second term ticket.

there are also allegations that Governor Ambode is working for the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

Ambode has however denied both allegations.

For his sins, sources in APC told the magazine, Commissioner Imohinmi was earlier this month removed from his position, but was later reinstated by the acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu.

It was further learned that underground moves are afoot to redeploy Imohimni from the state ahead the election as APC stalwarts weigh option on how to brighten the party’s chances.

“We will never allow Governor Ambode to destroy our chances of installing Sanwo-Olu. All cards are on the table including removing him from office to achieve this aim,” a close associate of the Lion of Bourdillon, as Tinubu is widely called told the magazine today.

Ahead Guber Polls, Tension and Division Persist in Cross River APC

By
The Source
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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

Beneath the tranquility that pervades Cross River’s political turf lies debilitating tension in the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC. Internal wrangling in the party has defied all mediation efforts. The 2019 gubernatorial election is 34 days away and indications are that in Cross River, APC is going into the election a divided house.

Crisis erupted in Cross River Chapter of APC during ward, local government and state congress of the party leaving the party polarized down the line after parallel congresses produced two factional state Executive Committees, one loyal to Senator Owan Enoh  who had just defected from the PDP, and the other to Niger- Delta Minister and founding APC member, Pastor Uguru Usani.

The governorship primaries also followed the same rancorous pattern as Senator Enoh and Pastor Usani emerged factional candidates of the party. Though the national leadership of APC and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC later recognized Enoh’s candidacy, the Minister has washed his hands off the action.

Usani insists he is the rightful Cross River APC standard bearer in the March 2, 2019 gubernatorial election. He is Court and has pledged to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. In the streets of Calabar, the state capital, both Usani and Enoh’s campaign bill boards and poster compete for space.

Pastor Uguru Usani: Lays claim to guber ticket
Pastor Uguru Usani: Lays claim to guber ticket

Both factional guber hopefuls also maintain campaign offices close to the other. Tension is palpable as supporters of both men bad mouth one another. Incendiary remarks are also hurled at Usani and Enoh. A Usani supporter told this Magazine that no amount of pressure would make his principal to waver in his claim to the APC guber ticket. His word: “Senator Enoh is wasting his time, he is going nowhere. He is a political refugee in APC and usurper who was chased out of PDP. Pastor Usani is the next governor of Cross River state. Let Senator Enoh continue to delude and humour himself, when the time comes, Pastor Usani will reclaim his mandate”

Senator Enoh’s loyalists do not have kind words for Usani too. One of them who spoke to The Source at Etta Agbor area of the capital described the Minister as “a bad loser and paperweight politician who should better face his clerical calling”.

According to insiders in both factions of APC in Cross River, several peace efforts have been frustrated by hardliners loyal to the two gladiators. The tiff between Usani and Senator Enoh has been taking its toll on the party. Apparently unsure of their political future in the APC in the face of the intractable crisis; members have been leaving in droves.

The latest was last week when, Sunday Omang, described as the state Assistant Secretary of the party, declared he was defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, along with over 1,000 of his supporters.

Meanwhile, the magazine has learnt that ahead the governorship polls, concerned elders and party chieftains from Central senatorial zone of the state, where Senator Enoh ad Usani hail from, have launched fresh imitative to reconcile both men.

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