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Atiku Lambasts CJN Ariwoola
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Phrank Shaibu, has reacted to remarks by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola, suggesting fraternity between the chief judicial officer and some politicians in the country.
Shaibu, who is also the special assistant on public communications to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, noted in a statement on Friday that Justice Ariwoola’s descent into political commentaries portended great dangers for the country’s judiciary.
Shaibu specifically frowns at the CJN’s remarks in support of a group of governors of the PDP led by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
The statement reads, “On October 30, 2022, the CJN, who is from Oyo State, was hosted to an elaborate reception by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde. At the event, Justice Ariwoola sat with Makinde and other governors, who now pride themselves as the G5. The governors all posed with the CJN for the cutting of the cake, where political statements were made.
“It seems that Justice Ariwoola has continued to enjoy the company of politicians. On November 24, 2022, the CJN was in Rivers State, this time as a guest of Governor Wike, who also happens to be a member of the G5.
“Apparently overwhelmed by Wike’s lavish reception at the inauguration of judiciary projects, the CJN said at the live event that he was happy that Makinde was a member of the G5 and solidly with the Rivers State governor.”
The Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande in a reaction said the CJN is not a politician, adding that people choose what they like to “suit their interests and inordinate desires.”
“He (the CJN) said he was surprised to see the G-5 Governors (Integrity Group Governors ) which, incidentally, his own State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde is a member at the occasion.
“Anything said, assumed, presumed or reported outside this, is simply a mere figment of the imagination of such authors and don’t in anyway represent what the CJN said in Port Harcourt, as no one is ready to join issues with such purveyors of misinformation,” he said.
November 26, 2022
Asari Dokubo: Atiku, Others can’t Match Tinubu
Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force (NDPSF), has described Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a ‘spare tyre,’ saying he can not match up with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dokubo made this assertion while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday.
The Niger Delta advocate, who reiterated that he is supporting Tinubu in the 2023 elections, described the former governor of Lagos as a success story in the state.
Dokubo also said Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), are no match for Tinubu.
He said, “In the presidential election, me, I’m with Tinubu because I saw what Tinubu did in Lagos and the legacy Tinubu left behind in Lagos.
“Tinubu was governor of Lagos state, he handed over to Fashola. Now, we can’t talk about Atiku. Atiku has never actually handled executive power, he was a spare tyre, he was vice-president.
“Obi of Labour Party was a governor for 8 years like Tinubu. Kwankwaso of NNPP was a governor of Kano state for 8 years. So, we compare these three, we leave out Atiku because he did not have the same excecutive power, he did not have the same excecutive that Tinubu, Kwankwaso and Obi excercised.
“Tinubu left power, he gave power to Fashola. Now, can you compare Fashola of Lagos to Willie Obiano that Obi picked? Can you? Can you compare the one that Kwankwaso picked in Kano that succeeded him? You cannot.
“Look, politics all over the world, let’s not say that Tinubu picked people, Tinubu have Lagos. What of in India? The Indian congress party that one family have been dominating? What of in Pakistan?
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What of in the United states of America where they say is the home of democracy where Trump, one man that I think something is wrong with his head is picking candidates, is sponsoring candidates, of he doesn’t endorse you in the Republican party you cannot win.
“when we are talking, it’s as if we are in isolation, we are not in isolation. We look at the record. If, you look at the candidates, Tinubu stands out, he is a success story in Lagos,” he said
November 26, 2022
Court Nullifies Osun LG Election
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, South-West Nigeria has declared the local government election held on October 15, 2022 as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
Justice Nathaniel Emmanuel Ayoola sacked all the chairmen and councillors elected into the local government councils across the state.
He held that the election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, was in contravention of Section 29 and 32 of the 2022 Electoral Act.
The court ordered the Local Government Chairmen and Councillors to vacate Council Secretariats and Offices with immediate effect.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had approached the court asking it to stop OSIEC from going ahead with the planned polls.
Reacting to the judgement, PDP State Caretaker Chairman, Akindele Adekunle lamented that about N1.5 billion which would have best been used for workers welfare was wasted by outgoing administration of Governor Oyetola for the conduct of the election in addition to several millions of naira illegally paid as salaries and allowances to the council officials.
He stated that the PDP had warned against conducting the election, citing all relevant legal authorities to convince OSIEC to back out of the undemocratic exercise.
Adekunle maintained that the judgement is an affirmation of the correctness of many alerts the party had issued in recent times.
November 26, 2022
Nigeria sends Troops to Mali for Peace Keeping Mission
Sixty-five troops of the Nigerian Medical Contingent 9, Level II Hospital have been deployed to Mali as part of the United National Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the region.
The troops have undergone an intensive three weeks of training and have been equipped with weapon training, protection of civilians, conflict-related sexual violence, child protection and sexual exploitation and abuse of skills to enable them to operate in Mali.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji yesterday, the Chief of Operations, Army, Major-General Akinjobi Olufemi, who was represented by the Director of Peace Support Operations, Army Headquarters, Brigadier-General Adetoro Bayode, stressed that ensuring security and stability in Africa is central to the country’s defence policy.
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He said, “Ensuring security and stability in Africa with specific emphasis on the west African sub-region through collective security and contributing to international peace and security are central to the overall objectives of our country’s national defence policy.”
November 26, 2022
2023: Atiku Always on the Run, Obi Lies With Statistics – Tinubu
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Friday, mocked his counterpart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar over the latter’s multiple attempts to occupy the number one political office in the country.
Tinubu made the call during a remark when he visited the revered monarch at his palace in Oporozo, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He noted that there are few presidential candidates contesting elections.
Tinubu said: “One says he is Atiku. How many times has he been running? He’s always on the run. He is never tired of running. Tell him to go and sit down.”
According to Tinubu, the other one lies with statistics and arithmetic. “No Indian can solve it. To mention his name is a disgrace to me.”
He said he give wrong statistics and wrong arithmetics of the economy.
While noting that the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom needs a man who knows the road, Tinubu said, “That’s me.”
He promised that he will not be far away from the Gbaramatu people if elected president as he is going to consult with them for the development of the area as well as provide employment for the teeming youths.
November 26, 2022
Despite Our Political Differences, Peter Obi And I Remain Brothers – Soludo
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has described the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and former Anambra governor, Peter Obi as his brother, saying their differences are “fundamentally political.”
Under Soludo’s party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Obi governed Anambra State between 2006 and 2014. He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, contesting as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019 before clinching the LP’s presidential ticket on May 30 in Asaba, Delta State.
Soludo’s remarks came 10 days after his scathing opinion piece on Obi, in which he accused his predecessor of using his presidential bid to play a game he allegedly could not win.
However, photos surfaced of the two Anambra political titans embracing on Thursday at the 70th Birthday Thanksgiving celebration of the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka.
According to a statement by Soludo’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, when Soludo arrived at the church, he promptly approached Obi and hugged him as people watched with surprise.
In his remarks, Soludo stated that he would soon meet with Obi to iron out their differences.
“Today is very special. When we came into the service, it was the first time, my brother, Peter Obi and I are meeting at a public event and in a Catholic Church which the two of us belong to. I think it was divine,” the governor said.
“Let me tell you, we spoke two times, just last night. We are brothers. You know I am not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend. I am a politician, but also want to make heaven. I will keep saying the truth.
“There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamentally political differences. Nothing else.”
The governor also dismissed allegations of $28m bribery received by him to run down the LP presidential candidate.
“For those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected a bribe to say what I said, I asked them to bring it so I will use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire now.
“On the fundamental differences we have, we are going to meet in the next few weeks. We’ve agreed to discuss and iron out our differences. We must get it done. Anambra is for all of us.”
While thanking God for the life of the celebrant, Soludo pointed out that the cleric had had a great influence on him and his government.
“You changed my thinking when you visited my village house in 2019 and rejected the foreign wine offered to you in the place of palm wine. Today at the Governor’s lodge, the highest wine served there is palm wine,” he said.
“I was also humbled by the moderate type of car you drove to my house. You told me you chose not to go with a vehicle far above the average of those you are pastoring. I think this is exemplary.
“When you see me drive Innoson cars, that’s part of the inspiration I got from you. If not for security, I would have been riding bicycles to work.
“We are taking the prudence you taught us to the next level because when we came in, it cost us over N137m to clean offices. Now, it costs barely N11m. I can only promise to take the message to the world.”
November 26, 2022
Court Nullifies Osun LG Election
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has nullified the local government election conducted by the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
Recall that the election was conducted by the state Electorial body (OSSIEC) on the 15th October.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Ayo-Nathaniel Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo said the election was held in contravention of sections 29 & 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He declared the election null and void for not being conducted in consonance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The court also ordered the chairman and councilors elected into the local government across the state through the process to vacate office with immediate effect.
The People’s Democratic Party had approached the court, asking it to stop (OSSIEC) from going ahead with the planned polls.
Other respondents in the matter include INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and its then chairman Adeboyega Famoodun.
November 25, 2022
NYSC: Acting DG pledges to restore corps image
Acting Director General, National Youth Service Corps, Mrs Christy Uba, on Thursday promised to restore and upgrade the image of the NYSC.
She spoke in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Combined Press and Public Relations, Protocol Officers and Freedom of Information Desk Officers Workshop.
“We want to restore the confidence of the staff and the corps members so that they know nothing has changed at NYSC.
“We still remain the scheme that has remained visible for some time now, nothing has changed,” she said.
November 25, 2022
How ICT, Agric Projected GDP To 2.25% In Q3 – NBS
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and agriculture are among the key sectors that boosted the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria by 2.25 per cent in the third quarter of 2022.
According to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released on Thursday, oil revenue dropped to 4.2% as production also dropped averagely to 1.2 million barrels per day.
This means the economy is steadily relying on the non-oil sector, which contributed 94.34%.
Recall that the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, had said the Nigerian economy now runs on revenue from the non-oil sector as oil no longer contributes to the government’s coffers.
But the oil production drop indicated that despite the discovery of illegal pipelines and the signing of a security contract with a former militant leader, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the country is yet to meet its OPEC quota.
Meanwhile, NBS has said the GDP was a drop from 4.03% in the third quarter of 2021.
It blamed the slow growth on the recession and the challenging economic conditions that have hindered productive activities.
“The Q3 2022 growth rate decreased by 1.78 per cent points from the 4.03% growth rate recorded in Q3 2021 and decreased by 1.29% points relative to 3.54% in Q2 2022,” it said.
It however said the real GDP grew at 9.68 per cent when compared to the second quarter of 2022, “Reflecting a higher economic activity in Q3 2022 than the preceding quarter.
“In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N52, 255,809.62 in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the third quarter of 2021 which recorded aggregate GDP of N45, 113,448.06, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 15.83 per cent.”
It added that agriculture contributed 29.67 per cent in real terms with crop production the major driver of the sector, while industries contributed 18.37 per cent and services 51.96 per cent.
November 25, 2022
Speed limit: FRSC to penalize violators
The Federal Road Safety Corps on Thursday warned operators against tampering with speed limiters.
The acting Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, gave the warning in his keynote address at the 2022 Annual Safety Managers Retreat in Abuja.
Biu, who was represented by the Corps Engineering Officer, FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Rindom Kumven, noted that the retreat was basically intended to address certain critical observations made by the Corps regarding the management of fleet operations in the country so far with its attendant consequences.
He also said expert investigations confirmed that the spate of road traffic crashes involving especially fleet operators could have been avoided if all safety managers had been committed to their roles.
The acting Corps Marshal added that the Corps would not hesitate to sanction violators of speed limiters.
He said, “It should be noted that the Corps’ recent appraisal of public transportation vis-à-vis general implementation of the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme has also revealed an unacceptably low level of effective compliance with installation of the Speed Limiting Device.
“Lapses observed included non-installation or tampering with the device, connivance with vendors to secure compliance certificates without actual installation, calibration above the approved speed limits and so on.
“These shall no longer be tolerated as the Corps will not hesitate to sanction violators henceforth.”
Speaking on the ’ember’ month, Biu said, “Please remember that we are already in the ’ember’ months which are usually characterised by increased mobility, a frenzy of activities, pressure to meet targets and unfortunately a period when many drivers (especially commercial drivers) throw caution to the wind by speeding, taking little or no rest at all with its resultant negative consequences (crashes).
“It is our hope therefore that Safety Managers would do the needful to ensure that their drivers observe all required safety precautions of road use within this period and beyond.”
November 25, 2022