#pdp chief

[godwin247]

Supreme court Dismisses Atiku and Obi's appeal, upholds Tinubu's Victory

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, affirmed President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the presidential election that held in the country on February 25. The apex court, in its lead judgement that was prepared and read by Justice Inyang Okoro, held that there was no merit in the petition that a former President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,…

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#2023 elections #APC #Atiku Abubakar #Bola Tinubu #Chief Jusctice #Election #election Tribunal #Judgement #Labour party #NEWS #Nigeria #PDP #peter obi #petition #president #Russia #supreme court

[naijadailyng247]

Photo News: Abians receive Chief Okey Ahiwe at Sam Mbakwe Airport

Leading Guber Aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Abia State PDP Governorship primary’s Chief Okey Ahiwe was received today at Sam Mbakwe Airport by Abians from all works of life after a successful PDP Governorship screening exercise which took place at the party headquarters in Abuja. Chief Okey Ahiwe a former Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor of the state Dr Okezie…

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#C.O Enweremadu #Chief Okey Ahaiwe #Okezie Victor Ikpeazu #PDP

[hardynwa]

Tinubu’s outburst on 25 per cent FCT votes sparks fresh controversy

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2023 presidential election and now President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmedu Tinubu, stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he cautioned the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, against attempting to remove him from office on the grounds that he did not get 25 percent of the total votes cast during the presidential election in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He warned that such action could lead to chaos and anarchy in the country. President Tinubu asked the election tribunal to dismiss the petition seeking the nullification of his election for not securing 25 percent of the lawful votes cast in the FCT, arguing that having scored 25 percent in about 30 states of the federation, his failure to obtain 25 percent in the FCT would not be strong enough to deny him of his hard-earned victory. Tinubu contested the February 25 presidential elections on the platform of the APC and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after polling 8,794,726 votes to beat his closest rivals, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 6, 984, 520 votes to place second, and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, Atiku and Obi had approached the election tribunal seeking to upturn Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that the elections were characterised by massive rigging as evidenced in the alleged widespread voters’ intimidation and suppression, ballot box snatching and destruction, over-voting, results manipulations, thuggery, vote buying, INEC’s failure to abide by its own rules and procedures, physical assault on voters, among others. Apart from these, Atiku and Obi also want Tinubu’s victory to be nullified because he did not score 25 percent of the total valid votes cast in the FCT, which according to them, is a constitutional requirement before anybody can be declared president of Nigeria. Since Tinubu’s declaration as the winner of that election, political discussion has been swinging like a pendulum. Nigerians, who prior to the elections were passive politically, had suddenly become active, discussing and analysing political developments from the election tribunal. Analysts are united in agreement that never in the history of Nigerian politics has there been the kind of political awareness and participation that were witnessed during the 2023 general elections. They also agreed that the country’s political firmament has never been as charged and ominous as it was between the period when Tinubu was declared the winner of the presidential election and May 29, when he was actually sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, Atiku and Obi have pursued their case at the election petition tribunal with each presenting before the tribunal pictures, videos and documentary evidence to prove that Tinubu should not have been declared as president in the first place, not to talk of swearing him into the office. The issue around Tinubu’s failure to get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT appears to be the strongest point against the president since it is a constitutional issue and does not require presenting any witness by the petitioners. But Tinubu, through his legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun, in a final written address to the tribunal against the petition, argued that the FCT is the 37th state for electoral purposes. He stressed that any other interpretation would “lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.” Stressing that the petition is novel but not familiar with the electoral law, Olanipekun said: “The issue in this address is very novel in the sense that it is not a petition stricto senso, familiar to our electoral jurisprudence, as the petitioners are not, this time around, complaining about election rigging, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing, violence, thuggery, vote buying, voters’ intimidation, disenfranchisement, interference by the military or the police, and such other electoral vices.” The lawyer was specifically addressing a section of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that a presidential candidate must score 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Since Tinubu was declared as the winner of the presidential election without scoring 25 percent in the FCT, several opinions have been expressed on the matter by Nigerians of all classes, including those that are not lawyers. There are those who have kept on insisting that the constitution considers Abuja as one of the states in the country. Those on this divide are saying that the word, ‘and’ as used in the constitution, ‘36 states of the federation and the FCT,’ does not really mean that the FCT is different from the 36 states of the federation. To them, the FCT is just the same as any other state of the federation. They, therefore, posited that Tinubu, having scored 25 percent of the votes cast in about 30 states, is eminently qualified to be declared president since the constitution said a candidate must secure 25 percent in two-third of the 36 states and the FCT, which is 24 states. However, there are those who insist that the word, ‘and’ as used in the constitution simply means that if any candidate who scores 25 percent of the votes cast in two-third of the 36 states, fails to score 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT, such a candidate has not met the constitutional requirement and should not be declared president. They further argued that if the framers of the constitution had a different thing in mind, they would not have inserted the word, ‘and’ there. They also disagreed with those who said that the FCT is just like any other state in the federation because while a state has a governor, who is elected by the electorate, the FCT does not have a governor, but a minister who is an appointee of the president. However, there are others who believe that even though the constitution provides that securing 25 percent votes cast in the FCT is a compulsory requirement before any candidate could win the presidential election, it would be left for the judges to look at what will best serve national interest and unity before they pass their judgement. However, Tinubu’s legal team seems to have agreed with those on this side of the divide as they are also saying that the courts have always been careful about giving extreme interpretations of the Constitution that could spark chaos. “Our courts have always adopted the purposeful approach to the interpretation of our Constitution, as exemplified in a host of decisions,” the team said. Tinubu’s legal team is also insisting that residents of the FCT, Abuja, are not more special than Nigerians from the other 36 states and cannot be treated specially. The team said: “In concluding our arguments on this issue, we urge the court to hold that any election where the electorates exercise their plebiscite, there is neither a ‘royal’ ballot nor ‘royal’ voter; and that residents of the FCT do not have any special voting right over residents of any other state of the federation, in a manner similar to the concepts of preferential shareholding in Company Law. We urge this court to resolve this issue against the petitioners and in favour of the respondent.” Pushing the argument further, the President’s legal team is also arguing that 25 percent votes cast in the FCT is not required by law for a president to emerge. “May we draw the attention of the court to the fact that there is no punctuation (comma) in the entire section 134(2)(b) of the constitution, particularly, immediately after the ‘States’ and the succeeding ‘and’ connecting the Federal Capital Territory with the States. In essence, the reading of the subsection has to be conjunctive and not disjunctive, as the Constitution clearly makes it so. Pressed further by this constitutional imperative, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is taken ‘as if’ it is the 37th State, under and by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.” However, the comment credited to President Tinubu’s legal team that removing him as president over his failure to score 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT might lead to the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria has sparked another round of argument. President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus, described the president as a joker for making such a statement. According to the Middle Belt leader, nobody is above the constitution and if the constitution has been interpreted that the ‘and’ is conjunctive, and that the FCT is additional to the two-third of the states, then it is not for President Tinubu to determine. “He cannot tell us that he is above the constitution and the laws of the nation. If the Supreme Court interprets that according to the law and the constitution, then it is above not only him, but also above every other Nigerian like him. This is because the constitution is the grundnorm; it is superior to every other law that we have in Nigeria. It is the only thing that is binding us together. “So, if the constitution interprets it that way, it is not how I feel or how he or any other person feels because the law is not a respecter of persons. He cannot tell us that there will be anarchy in the land if the tribunal interprets the constitution. The country and the constitution are above him,” he said. Also, a legal practitioner, Marcellus Onah did not agree that there will be anarchy in the land if the tribunal removes the president on the grounds that he did not get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT. “What does he mean by anarchy in the land? Yes, a few of his supporters might want to cause trouble but that will be in Lagos only, not even in any other South West states. And I am sure the security agents will know what to do in such circumstances. “So, he cannot threaten anybody because he is not more Nigerian than anybody. Besides, nobody is above the law. The constitution is the only document that guides how everybody operates in Nigeria, so nobody should claim to be above it. “If the tribunal has established that he did not get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT, there is nothing anybody can do. That is just it and no amount of threat from him can change anything. The constitution must prevail at all times. That is the only thing that will make the outside world respect us as a nation,” he said. Read the full article

[njenjemedia]

Bola Ahmed Tinubu spent staggering sums of cash to collar the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The self-same Tinubu – ex-governor, ex-senator, ex-June 12 activist, life-long Asiwaju and Jagaban unto death – appears doomed to become an also-ran in next year’s presidential election.Before our very eyes and his, Tinubu’s aspiration to be Nigeria’s first citizen seems to be unraveling. In metaphoric terms, every sign suggests that the ship of the APC candidate’s political campaign is about to ram into the rocks. This looming catastrophe is all the man’s doing. There’s an undeniable touch of genius about the man Tinubu. His life has consisted of a series of self-reinventions. His real name may or may not be the one he uses. Many suspect that he’s older, much older, than his declared age. He certainly did not attend classes at the prestigious University of Chicago, but graduated from a much less exalted community college in the same city. It appears he once ran afoul of the law in the United States, and had to pay a fine to avoid prison. A remarkable member of NADECO, a group that opposed General Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Tinubu led the life of an exile. By many accounts, his exilic life was marked by harsh, deprived circumstances, a far cry from his aggrandized present as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest persons. There’s more. Tinubu went from being a two-term governor of Lagos to being the state’s lone kingmaker. After his tenure, each subsequent occupant of the gubernatorial office served at Tinubu’s pleasure. Indeed, there was a time when he operated as ultimate suzerain over the vast geopolitical space of southwestern Nigeria. Political aspirants in the region knew that securing Tinubu’s nod of approval was the best guarantee of electoral victory. That, I insist, is the profile of a veritable political genius. If Tinubu was once the acknowledge maker or wrecker of others’ political careers, why does his presidential campaign seem so besieged and lackluster, about to fizzle out? Why is this wizard of political brinksmanship unable to fend off lurking disaster? In the past couple of weeks alone, Tinubu’s political capital has been depleted. Weeks after outspending other candidates to purchase the APC’s ticket, he had an opportunity to demonstrate his political dominance in the southwest. That opportunity came in the form of a governorship election in Osun State. The APC’s candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, went into the race with all the advantages of incumbency. Tinubu showed up, determined to shore up his candidate. The main opponent, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, comes from a prominent family, but was more known for his hard partying theatrics than political influence. Even so, Mr. Dancer trounced Governor Oyetola, claiming 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas. Make no mistake: the APC’s loss in Osun was a direct message to Tinubu. He must have left Osun rattled that his own people were out to cut him to size. It was a shocker, but hardly surprising. For long, Tinubu appeared to fancy himself some iteration – if not an improved version – of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. For good reason, the Yoruba hold Awo as a peerless icon. If they revere the late statesman, it’s because – despite his flaws – he earned every bit of their adoration. He oversaw the modernist transformation of the Western region, a feat he achieved by championing free education and healthcare as well as investing in infrastructure. Awo was both cerebral and pragmatic, a man whose political actions were fertilized by deep reflection on society. By contrast, Tinubu is an intellectual paperweight, a man who has sought to reap more from his geopolitical zone than he ever planted. His unlikely rise in politics seemed to encourage him to hubris. Without doing Awo’s work, he demanded the late sage’s preferment. His political undoing was always on the cards. But I believe he accelerated it with what I call his Abeokuta Declaration.

Politically attuned Nigerians will long recall that moment when Tinubu went to Abeokuta to declare that it was his turn to be Nigeria’s president. In that outing, he managed to insult everybody within view and without. He asserted that he made Muhammadu Buhari president after a string of failures by Buhari’s Igbo collaborators. He belittled the state’s governor to his, basically taking all credit for the man’s governorship. It was a cringe-worthy performance. As his stunned kinsfolk looked on, Tinubu – as feeble a man as you’re likely to find anywhere – presided over his own transformation to godhead! After watching that weird drama, a Yoruba friend called to tell me he believed Tinubu had diminished his stock in Yorubaland. I wasn’t quite sure about his call. But after beholding the shellacking in Osun State, I have little or no doubt. As if he had not inflicted enough damage to himself, Tinubu chose former Governor Kashim Shettima as his Vice Presidential candidate, going for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Nigeria is in a hyper state of polarization. The country seethes with inter-ethnic distrust and inter-religious discord. Nigerians have been on edge for sometime, their living space devastated by unchecked terrorist acts by extremist Islamist groups and run-away violence by herdsmen. Buhari’s mindless nepotism has exacerbated feelings of sectional injustice and marginalization. Given that climate, Tinubu’s VP choice was worse than tone-deaf. It amounted to spitting in the faces of half of the Nigerian electorate. What was worse, Tinubu knew that he’d made a terrible decision. I know because of what he and his campaign did at the event where his VP was officially unveiled. They recruited a few louts, dressed the inept, famished actors in ecclesial garments, and paraded them as prelates come to bless the ticket. It was a desperate calculation, informed by a misconceived view that he would become more electorally appealing in the country’s northern half. A principled leader would have come before Nigerians and attempted to explain his choice. Instead, Tinubu orchestrated a hoax, a pathetic, easy-to-unmask gambit. How are Nigerians to ever trust any statement that proceeds from his lips? Later, in an egregious assault on language and logic, Shettima described himself and Tinubu as Nigeria’s “dream team.” Which declaration should make every enlightened Nigerian wish, instead, for a “nightmare team”! The truth is that, from the outset, Tinubu was damaged goods. His physical health is palpably compromised. His hands shake, he speaks with great difficulty, and it’s impossible to erase from the memory of Nigerians that viral video of his agbada apparently smeared with piss. Nigerians know full well the peril of entrusting their affairs to men of wretched health. They’ve seen too much of Sani Abacha, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Buhari to be in a haste to hire another infirm captain of their ship of state. Tinubu deserves Nigerians’ collective mercy. It’s an apt act of mercy to excuse an ailing man from the arduous task of leadership, and to send him home to mind his failing health. ~Prof. Okey Ndibe

[premimtimes]

N12 billion stolen from Kwara under PDP's Abdulfatah Ahmed - Audit Report

N12 billion stolen from Kwara under PDP’s Abdulfatah Ahmed – Audit Report

About N11.9 billion was stolen from the treasury of Kwara State between 2011 and 2019, an audit report commissioned by the state government says. “The audit also showed that N2 billion cash withdrawals not tied to any project or official expenditure were made within eight days in February 2019, barely one month to the general election,” Rafiu Ajakaiye, the chief press secretary to the current…

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#abdulfatah ahmed #Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq #H1 #Kwara #News #Nigerian news #PREMIUM TIMES #premium times news

[gidd-blog1]

BREAKING: After Ihedioha, PDP southeast zonal publicity secretary resigns

Engr. Augustine Elochukwu Okeke, the zonal publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southeast zone, has resigned his membership in the main opposition party. Okeke made this known in a letter addressed to the national vice chairman, southeast zone of the PDP, Chief Ali Odefa, in a letter dated April 23, 2024. He wrote: ”Due to personal reasons, I hereby resign from office…

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#entertainment #finance #health #opinion #politics #sport #technology

[africhome01]

Edo State Deputy Governor, Shaibu, Impeached

The Edo State House of Assembly, Monday 8 April 2024, impeached the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, over allegations of misconduct. The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe the allegations against Shaibu. The panel, which was inaugurated in February, was tasked with investigating the allegations of gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abandonment of office leveled against the deputy governor. The panel submitted its report to the House of Assembly last week, and after a thorough review of the report, the lawmakers voted in support of the impeachment. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, who made the announcement of the impeachment, said the decision was reached after the House considered the report of the investigative panel. He said the impeachment was in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The development comes after several months of political tension in the state, with the deputy governor and the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, at loggerheads over political differences. Shaibu, who was elected as deputy governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016, had been at odds with Obaseki, who defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020. The impeachment of the deputy governor has been described as a significant development in the political landscape of Edo State, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the state’s governance and political dynamics. The Edo State House of Assembly has not yet announced the next steps to be taken in the wake of the impeachment, but it is expected that the state government will make a statement in due course. Source link Read the full article

[reportafrique]

Tinubu has destroyed the Nigerian economy, says Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria and PDP Presidential candidate in the last general election has accused President Ahmed Bola Tinubu of destroying the Nigerian economy. Atiku Abubakar, who has been in Dubai since after the Supreme Court judgement on his suit against Tinubu's election victory, has been vocal in his opposition against the federal government under Bola Tinubu. The former Vice President condemned Tinubu for travelling to France on a private visit while the country is dwindling economically following numerous kidnapping activities and other insecurity challenges in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and other parts of the country. He accused the President of lacking the political will to tackle insecurity in the country. "Tinubu is playing fiddle while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity. Imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is on a so-called private visit while kidnappers kill a nursing mother and grandmother in Abuja for failing to pay N90m ransom and two monarchs in Ekiti, among other regular tragedies besetting Nigerians. If the shoes are too big for Emilokan, he should step aside. Nigeria does not need another Tourist-in-Chief. The country needs 24/7 leadership to confront the pervasive insecurity and collapsing economy." He disclosed this on his official handle on the microblogging platform, X. REPORT AFRIQUE had earlier reported on President Tinubu's private trip to France last week. In another development, Vice President Kashim Shettima acting on behalf of Tinubu inaugurated a committee to increase the minimum wage in Nigeria. Read the full article

[kimskashmir]

Several professionals social activists join PDP in Jammu

JAMMU — Several social activists and professionals on Sunday joined the PDP here in the presence of its president Mehbooba Mufti. Those who joined the party were advocate Meenakshi Bhatyal, Rajiv Sharma, Sameer Ahmed, Haider Abass and Adil Altaf. Their decision to join the PDP reflects a growing endorsement of the party’s values and vision, a spokesman said. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief…

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#Jammu #Mehbooba Mufti #People&039;s Democratic Party (PDP)

[rainsmediaradio]

PBAT- Administration - Litmus Test

PBAT- Administration - Litmus Test

PBAT - Administration - Litmus Test by Dr Kenny Odugbemi

Nigerians in a hundred and thirty multidimensionally poor people are still wallowing in abject poverty despite changes in Administration Nigeria has been a product of cluelessness and incompetent administration of over 8years now dragging Nigeria from a failing state gradually, moving to a Failed state Review of PBAT administration audacious policies considered Germaine and commended Worldwide Deteriorating insecurity following huge increase incident of kidnapping in Abuja -55 kidnapped in Federal headquarters growing incidents have led to intense protests Killings in Northcentral Plateau,Taraba,Kaduna etc running into hundreds of people Abuja is now having worsening situation Along Cameroun border, terrorist is at peak with Adamawa, Borno, Venue, Cross river and Akwaibom, now seeking wider collaboration with heavy incidences in North east and Northwest where banditry worsened by clear cross border communities.. Commissioning of near end PH refinery at $1.5b remain elusive not meeting target of December till date it is not mere mechanical vibration with hope of commissioning a future going concerns Looting with impunity, leading to cancellation of all Social welfare structure Delayed student loans meant to come to fruition now elusive -WIP Pledging the future earnings of Natural resources to collect loan,has reman not too sound with reference to declaration of Dr Akinwunmi's AFDB due to other hidden strigent conditions Foreign airline owner threatening to leave as they have only got 10% of $760m trapped in Nigeria Afriexim loan jacked up to $3.3b instead of $3b with new entrant of brokers UBA and other Banks, jettisoning IMF that only set out conditionalities of fuel price increase and forex stability Unification of exchange rate with multilevel rate of exchange, we do not have price stability Looting of funds meant to sort out palliative by Minister and National Coordinator CNG Reconversion is not making a significant impact much less than 1m vehicles,whilst executives and Legislatures are not abiding with this measure, only private and passenger buses for the poor across the state were used as proof of concept Reflection from last administration PMB for over 8years incurred total debt of N77trn PBAT- Administration between May 29thvof 2023 and January 2024 have accumulated further to N97.7trn securitizing further N7.3trn of way and mean pushing it to N30.3trn thus include N23trn , promise kept by PBAT of accepting asset and liability . Characteristics of PBAT inheritance from PMB Financial recklessness Lack of effective monitoring and supervision MDA and Security Chiefs operating in Silos, facilitating increasing budgetary allocation to the Military, but experiencing more attack of terrorist even as fire power increase killings, kidnapping increases geometrically, what a paradox Capital budget execution of 27% with recurrent expenditure above threshold due to mismanagement of methods and means Poor budgetary allocation without concept and foundation, not alignment with present condition assessment giving room for bogus and inconsistent budgetary items with non-alignment with reasonable pricing schedules Economy driven by religious and ethnic sentiment Super Ministers appointment a glorified, not fully recognized now destabilize in second term,Fashola&Ameachi unbundled for mere political reasons only to give room for looting in power and aviation Ministries department and agencies Non-functional anti-graft agencies strongly politicized by politriking What is the difference between PBAT and PMB very insignificant with worse signals Bloated structure More political rewardees in government with no capacity, competence and character with low moral values Current situation with PBAT Gravitation toward one party with weak opposition of PDP the rest parties almost non-existent The looting of the next head of humanitarian disaster and poverty alleviation National Coordinator N44b Last Minister N33bn Current Minister almost N600m award of spurious head counter for 11days to the tune almost N500m to organization owned through share by Minister of interior who was indicted as Chairman of NDDC House of representatives of over $20b looting despite last year country wide forensic investigation till date no fruitful outcome ,yet nominated and considered as Minister not matured in organizational of MDA only Nigeria passport issuance creative nuisance through Media just like inglorious Minister looting with impunity Conclusion PBAT - Administration must defend its mandate What happened in Humanitarian disaster and poverty is true happening across all MDA's, this occurrence came alive because Minister trying to run out with the National Coordinator, because of change of her signatory, she has now diverted billions to her own personal account which is why Dr Beta Edu escalated to antigraft agency and the National Coordinator released dosier on her as reactionary force All MDA'S must be throughly investigation Defaulters must have full sanction as precedence to curb further impunity Read the full article

#DrKennyOdugbemi

[jatuskicommunications]

Tinubu: Tell Nigerians How Much Is Missing, PDP Group Condemns Suspension Of NSIPA Boss 

By; KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna Following the suspension of the National Co-ordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Agency (NSIPA), Ms Halima Shehu, a group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the aegis of PDP Forever Initiative has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow thorough investigation of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu over the…

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[godwin247]

A summary view of the Tribunal judgement on Peter Obi/Labour party case

TRIBUNAL: On the allegation that Tinubu was convicted in the USA and as such disqualified from contesting on grounds of previous conviction, the Tribunal held that this ground of the Petitioners’ petition fails, because there is no evidence that Tinubu was convicted of any criminal offence involving fraud or dishonesty in Nigeria or elsewhere within the 10 years preceding the 2023…

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#bola #Chief justice #court #Election #electoral #labour #law #NEWS #Nigeria #Obi #party #PDP #Peter #president #pressure #Russia #Tinibu #TRIBUNAL

[naijadailyng247]

Birthday: Ahiwe Celebrates Sir Don Ubani

The Abia State PDP 2023 governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahiwe has paid glowing tributes to iconic politician and social historian, the Okwubunka of Asa, Sir Don Ubani on the occasion of his birthday anniversary to day. Describing Sir Don Ubani as great son of Asa, courageous political crusader and true Igbo patriot, Chief Ahiwe said that “Through the insightful analysis and incisive truths…

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[hardynwa]

Benue: PDP asks anti-graft agencies to prosecute govt officials for mismanaging LG funds

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has called on the anti-corruption agencies in the country to ensure that officials of the state government who have been fingered in the alleged embezzlement of local government funds are brought to justice. The PDP, which made the call in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Chief Bemgba Iortyom, described as unacceptable, reports of mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies by the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration. The party pointed to reports that N20 billion out of N50 billion belonging to the 23 local government councils in the state was allegedly deducted and paid illegally into private accounts. The statement reads, “The constitution of two panels by Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to probe the administration of his immediate predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom, is evidently a ploy to shied from public scrutiny the serial failures of his government. “In what may be interpreted as a lack of confidence in the Benue Judicial family, Governor Alia selected two justices from outside the state to head the two panels which are vested with separate mandates to probe into the assets and finances of the state during the era of the Ortom administration from May 29, 2015 to May 28, 2023. “Chief Ortom, who since the expiry of his two terms in office as governor has lived freely among the people in the state, has since expressed his readiness to submit himself before any lawful process as will require him to give account of his stewardship as governor. “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, likewise, recognizes the place of probity and accountability as necessary components of good governance, and will stand by its Leader, Chief Ortom, through this process of stock-taking, if that is actually what it will be. “Nevertheless, the party raises questions as to the timing of the probe exercise, coming it at a time Governor Alia’s table is already full with issues of insecurity and allegations of monumental corruption taking place under his watch. “PDP recalls that only last week the governor issued a 14 days ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen who have instreamed into the state with thousands of cattle to leave, however, there was no clear statement on the consequences for non compliance with the ultimatum. “Today marks the 8th day into that ultimatum and if anything, the herders have intensified their influx into the state coming in larger numbers and with larger herds of livestock, thereby deepening insecurity and putting to greater jeopardy the survival of the people who depend on the land for basic sustenance. “There has also arisen the allegations of massive corruption taking place at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs where sharp practices have been exposed in the form of illegal deductions and remittances from the accounts of the 23 local government councils into private accounts of certain officials of government and some suspected cronies of the governor. “In the last few days, the national media have been awash with news of civil society groups who, having observed the fleece taking place at the Benue State local government Bureau, have forwarded petitions regarding those allegations to anti-corruption authorities vested with the powers for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, and the sums involved run into tens of billions of naira within a period of less than a year. “PDP notes with sadness that those allegations of mismanagement of taxpayers monies by the Alia government are such that an alleged N20 billion out of N50 billion belonging to the 23 local government councils has been deducted into illegal accounts, and this hints loudly at the reason why Governor Alia had gone to the extremities of disregarding series of court orders to sack the lawful councils and put in their place his selected cronies as caretaker chairmen. “Also of grave concern are the allegations that an estimated close to N300 million was deducted from the local government funds monthly purportedly to feed and cater for the IDPs in the state, yet it is not anywhere known that the Alia government has any programme in place for the IDPs. “PDP cautions Governor Alia against trifling with the security and well-being of the people of Benue State whom he swore on oath to serve, and must resist the temptation to indulge in vendetta and smokescreens while insecurity and poverty pose an increasingly monstrous existential threat to the people. “The party also calls on the EFCC, ICPC, DSS and the Presidency to ensure that those officials of the Alia administration fingered in the alleged grand theft of local government funds in the state are brought to book.“ Read the full article

[njenjemedia]

Bola Ahmed Tinubu spent staggering sums of cash to collar the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The self-same Tinubu – ex-governor, ex-senator, ex-June 12 activist, life-long Asiwaju and Jagaban unto death – appears doomed to become an also-ran in next year’s presidential election.Before our very eyes and his, Tinubu’s aspiration to be Nigeria’s first citizen seems to be unraveling. In metaphoric terms, every sign suggests that the ship of the APC candidate’s political campaign is about to ram into the rocks. This looming catastrophe is all the man’s doing. There’s an undeniable touch of genius about the man Tinubu. His life has consisted of a series of self-reinventions. His real name may or may not be the one he uses. Many suspect that he’s older, much older, than his declared age. He certainly did not attend classes at the prestigious University of Chicago, but graduated from a much less exalted community college in the same city. It appears he once ran afoul of the law in the United States, and had to pay a fine to avoid prison. A remarkable member of NADECO, a group that opposed General Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Tinubu led the life of an exile. By many accounts, his exilic life was marked by harsh, deprived circumstances, a far cry from his aggrandized present as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest persons. There’s more. Tinubu went from being a two-term governor of Lagos to being the state’s lone kingmaker. After his tenure, each subsequent occupant of the gubernatorial office served at Tinubu’s pleasure. Indeed, there was a time when he operated as ultimate suzerain over the vast geopolitical space of southwestern Nigeria. Political aspirants in the region knew that securing Tinubu’s nod of approval was the best guarantee of electoral victory. That, I insist, is the profile of a veritable political genius. If Tinubu was once the acknowledge maker or wrecker of others’ political careers, why does his presidential campaign seem so besieged and lackluster, about to fizzle out? Why is this wizard of political brinksmanship unable to fend off lurking disaster? In the past couple of weeks alone, Tinubu’s political capital has been depleted. Weeks after outspending other candidates to purchase the APC’s ticket, he had an opportunity to demonstrate his political dominance in the southwest. That opportunity came in the form of a governorship election in Osun State. The APC’s candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, went into the race with all the advantages of incumbency. Tinubu showed up, determined to shore up his candidate. The main opponent, Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, comes from a prominent family, but was more known for his hard partying theatrics than political influence. Even so, Mr. Dancer trounced Governor Oyetola, claiming 17 of the state’s 30 local government areas. Make no mistake: the APC’s loss in Osun was a direct message to Tinubu. He must have left Osun rattled that his own people were out to cut him to size. It was a shocker, but hardly surprising. For long, Tinubu appeared to fancy himself some iteration – if not an improved version – of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. For good reason, the Yoruba hold Awo as a peerless icon. If they revere the late statesman, it’s because – despite his flaws – he earned every bit of their adoration. He oversaw the modernist transformation of the Western region, a feat he achieved by championing free education and healthcare as well as investing in infrastructure. Awo was both cerebral and pragmatic, a man whose political actions were fertilized by deep reflection on society. By contrast, Tinubu is an intellectual paperweight, a man who has sought to reap more from his geopolitical zone than he ever planted. His unlikely rise in politics seemed to encourage him to hubris. Without doing Awo’s work, he demanded the late sage’s preferment. His political undoing was always on the cards. But I believe he accelerated it with what I call his Abeokuta Declaration.

Politically attuned Nigerians will long recall that moment when Tinubu went to Abeokuta to declare that it was his turn to be Nigeria’s president. In that outing, he managed to insult everybody within view and without. He asserted that he made Muhammadu Buhari president after a string of failures by Buhari’s Igbo collaborators. He belittled the state’s governor to his, basically taking all credit for the man’s governorship. It was a cringe-worthy performance. As his stunned kinsfolk looked on, Tinubu – as feeble a man as you’re likely to find anywhere – presided over his own transformation to godhead! After watching that weird drama, a Yoruba friend called to tell me he believed Tinubu had diminished his stock in Yorubaland. I wasn’t quite sure about his call. But after beholding the shellacking in Osun State, I have little or no doubt. As if he had not inflicted enough damage to himself, Tinubu chose former Governor Kashim Shettima as his Vice Presidential candidate, going for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Nigeria is in a hyper state of polarization. The country seethes with inter-ethnic distrust and inter-religious discord. Nigerians have been on edge for sometime, their living space devastated by unchecked terrorist acts by extremist Islamist groups and run-away violence by herdsmen. Buhari’s mindless nepotism has exacerbated feelings of sectional injustice and marginalization. Given that climate, Tinubu’s VP choice was worse than tone-deaf. It amounted to spitting in the faces of half of the Nigerian electorate. What was worse, Tinubu knew that he’d made a terrible decision. I know because of what he and his campaign did at the event where his VP was officially unveiled. They recruited a few louts, dressed the inept, famished actors in ecclesial garments, and paraded them as prelates come to bless the ticket. It was a desperate calculation, informed by a misconceived view that he would become more electorally appealing in the country’s northern half. A principled leader would have come before Nigerians and attempted to explain his choice. Instead, Tinubu orchestrated a hoax, a pathetic, easy-to-unmask gambit. How are Nigerians to ever trust any statement that proceeds from his lips? Later, in an egregious assault on language and logic, Shettima described himself and Tinubu as Nigeria’s “dream team.” Which declaration should make every enlightened Nigerian wish, instead, for a “nightmare team”! The truth is that, from the outset, Tinubu was damaged goods. His physical health is palpably compromised. His hands shake, he speaks with great difficulty, and it’s impossible to erase from the memory of Nigerians that viral video of his agbada apparently smeared with piss. Nigerians know full well the peril of entrusting their affairs to men of wretched health. They’ve seen too much of Sani Abacha, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Buhari to be in a haste to hire another infirm captain of their ship of state. Tinubu deserves Nigerians’ collective mercy. It’s an apt act of mercy to excuse an ailing man from the arduous task of leadership, and to send him home to mind his failing health. ~Prof. Okey Ndibe

[ojighodovwan]

Oborevwori, Uduaghan, Okowa, attend Ukodhiko’s thanksgiving

On Dec 24, 2023

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, former Governors of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Sunday, attended the victory thanksgiving and dedication service of the Member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko.

The thanksgiving service which held at Ukodhiko’s country home at Erawha-Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state also, had in attendance Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator Joel Onowakpor-Thomas; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Hon. Nicholas Mutu; State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Kingsley Esiso; Senator Stella Omu; Hon. Leo Ogor; Chief Solomon Ogba and Hon. Johnson Erijo among others.

Members of the State House of Assembly; Commissioners and top government functionaries; traditional rulers including the 1st Vice Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Luke-Kalanama VIII; the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, 2nd Vice Chairman and Obi of Ubulu-Unor, HRM, Henry Kikachukwu I; Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, HRM Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka I; Okpuzo of Owhe Kingdom, HRM Romanus Inana; Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM Dr. Monday Whiskey, Udurhie I, were among dignitaries that attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Governor Oborevwori congratulated Hon. Ukodhiko on his victory at the polls and subsequent affirmation of his election by the tribunal and Appeal Court.

He said: “I congratulate Hon. Ukodhiko for the various victories God granted him at the polls and at the courts. I am not surprised he won because he is a very humble man.

“Thank you for your humility, getting to this position is by God grace because God said it is your time and your meekness has kept you.

“Giving thanks provokes God’s divine intervention in every aspects of life because it moves God