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Category: Politics

  • Oyo Govt. Set To Punish Open Defecators

    Oyo Govt. Set To Punish Open Defecators

    The Oyo State Government on Wednesday said it was set to punish individuals who defecate in the open and indiscriminately dump refuse.

    It said this is part of efforts to help reduce significantly or completely eradicate cases of open defecation in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this at a 2-day media dialogue on open defecation free in the South-West states, held in Ibadan.

    The gathering, which was sponsored by UNICEF, was attended by media executives from the five south-west states.

    Prince Oyelade added that the move to penalize open defecators and indiscriminate dumping of refuse was part of efforts aimed at achieving the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2027.

    He stated that the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has unequivocally mandated the Ministry of Justice to ensure prosecution of anyone who dumps, refuses or defecates openly in the State.

    Prince Oyelade said the penalty, when fully in place, would promote behavioural change in the hygiene of citizens and curb open defecation.

    He said, “Oyo State Government is willing to effect the necessary behavioural change in open defecation, working with UNICEF’s WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) action plan.

    “In Oyo State, we have adopted the WASH action plan, and if need be, we will back it up with legislation,” Prince Oyelade added.

    “And the Ministry of Justice has been mandated to penalize defecators and those dumping refuse in illegal sites. Also, law enforcement agencies will do their bit.”

    “It is sad that Nigeria has taken over from Egypt by recording the highest rate of open defecation,” he said.

    Prince Dotun Oyelade said the Oyo State Government, before 2027, will ensure much improvement in the social menaces and all other diseases plaguing the state.

    He therefore appealed to residents to patronize Government approved waste Consultant and stop the unhygienic practice of open defecation.

    He said, “To this end, billboards will be erected at major junctions and entry points of the State, to discourage anyone from practicing any environmental infractions, and the penalties.

    He added, “The Oyo State government is bent on ensuring residents obey the law of social etiquette.”

    Prince Oyelade pledged Oyo State Government’s continued partnership with UNICEF on ensuring Oyo State is open defecation-free.

    Earlier, UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr. Monday Johnson revealed that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, about 48 million Nigerians are practicing open defecation.

    Mr. Johnson said disposal of human faeces in the open, including fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water and other open spaces is a common practice in the country.

    He said though Oyo State has one of the highest data of unhygienic practice of open defecation in the South-West, UNICEF is glad that it has progressively started actions to end open defecation.

  • “Dele Momodu’s Reasons for Not Supporting APC”

    “Dele Momodu’s Reasons for Not Supporting APC”

    By Daniel Edu

    Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision not to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) after initially considering it.

    The former presidential aspirant and a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been engaged in a social media dispute with APC supporters due to his refusal to endorse Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.

    Momodu recently posted on X, expressing his displeasure with APC supporters, particularly their fixation on an interview where he mentioned that Tinubu had given him 500 pounds in London during his years in exile.

    He emphasized that this gesture was not intended to make him subservient and stated that he had reciprocated it manifold.

    In his X post, Momodu stated, “I will support a government that appears very reasonable and sympathetic to the citizens of Nigeria. I could have supported APC in 2015 but saw the negative signs early on that Buhari was leading us in the wrong direction. APC has already gone astray in less than six months now.”

  • Governor Akeredolu Working from Ibadan Due to Accommodation Challenges, Ondo Government Explains

    Governor Akeredolu Working from Ibadan Due to Accommodation Challenges, Ondo Government Explains

    By Daniel Edu

    Doyin Odebowale, the Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has clarified that his absence from the state’s capital, Akure, is not by choice but due to accommodation difficulties.

    In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Odebowale shed light on the situation. Governor Akeredolu has been away from the state since his return from a medical trip abroad, opting to work from Ibadan, Oyo State, which has sparked concerns within Ondo State, particularly from the youth wing of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who issued an ultimatum for his return.

    Odebowale explained that the reason for this move is Governor Akeredolu’s health condition. The accommodation where he previously stayed, known as the Presidential Lodge, was a two-bedroom apartment built for visiting presidents during the time of Olusegun Obasanjo. Due to the governor’s current health condition, it was no longer suitable for him.

    Furthermore, the previous Governor’s Office, which housed the Governor’s Lodge, is now utilized as the office for the state’s investment outlet called the ODIPA. Therefore, Governor Akeredolu has been managing with a two-bedroom apartment for six years. However, his health situation necessitates more appropriate accommodations to facilitate his recovery.

    The new accommodation being arranged for him is nearly completed, and it is crucial for his well-being. Odebowale emphasized that Governor Akeredolu has continued to perform his official duties, including signing laws and ensuring that civil servants receive their salaries. The move to Ibadan is temporary, intended to better accommodate his health requirements rather than a refusal to fulfill his responsibilities.

  • “Former SGF Claims Peter Obi Won 2023 Presidential Election, Questions Tinubu’s Victory”

    “Former SGF Claims Peter Obi Won 2023 Presidential Election, Questions Tinubu’s Victory”

    By Daniel Edu

    In a surprising turn of events, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, has asserted that the February 25th presidential election was actually won by Peter Obi of the Labour Party, rather than Bola Tinubu, who was officially declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the presidential election petition tribunal.

    Lawal, in a statement released on Tuesday, cited data from independent sources to support his claim that Peter Obi received the majority of votes, with Atiku coming in second place, while Bola Tinubu secured a distant third in the vote tally.

    Expressing concerns about Tinubu’s eligibility to participate in the election due to the negative information publicly revealed about him, Lawal urged him to resign to spare himself from potential public humiliation and embarrassment.

    Lawal emphasized the importance of leadership qualities, including integrity, trustworthiness, and the ability to inspire hope, suggesting that many Nigerians believed Tinubu lacked these attributes.

    In addition to his doubts about the election results, Lawal criticized Tinubu’s political appointments, arguing that they seemed to be a reward for those who supported him in securing the presidency at any cost. He also raised concerns about rising fuel prices, the weakening value of the Naira, and escalating insecurity in the country, attributing these issues to the actions of Tinubu’s appointed officials.

  • Senate Convenes Emergency Closed-door Session Amid Ndume’s Walkout

    Senate Convenes Emergency Closed-door Session Amid Ndume’s Walkout

    By Daniel Edu

    On Tuesday, October 17, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for an impromptu closed-door session during the Senate’s plenary proceedings. This unusual move followed the walkout by Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order.

    Ndume had cited order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders to raise a point of order. He expressed concerns about the Senate president’s conduct in the chambers, which, in his view, did not align with the established rules.

    Ndume stated, “Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn…”

    Akpabio intervened at this point, requesting a copy of the Standing Orders. He proceeded to read order 54 and contended that it did not support the point Ndume was making, subsequently ruling him out of order.

    Expressing his frustration, Ndume collected his papers and files, visibly upset, and left the chamber, proceeding to his office. However, he received a call from a colleague, instructing him to return to the chamber for an executive session.

    The closed-door executive session was ongoing at the time of this report.

  • Liberia’s Presidential Run-Off: Neck and Neck Race

    Liberia’s Presidential Run-Off: Neck and Neck Race

    By  Milcah   Tanimu

    Liberia is on the verge of a presidential run-off election as official provisional results show that the two leading candidates, incumbent President George Weah and opposition candidate Joseph Boakai, are in a neck-and-neck race. With over 94 percent of the ballots counted, Boakai, 78, secured 43.70 percent of the vote, while Weah, 57, a former international football star running for a second term, garnered 43.65 percent.

    In the first round of voting on October 10, both candidates outperformed the other 18 presidential contenders. However, it appears that neither Weah nor Boakai will secure an absolute majority, necessitating a run-off election.

    While nearly 93 percent of polling stations have completed ballot counting, the official results announcement will trigger the scheduling of a run-off, expected to take place two weeks later. The timing may be subject to potential appeals.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have commended the Liberian government and the election commission for conducting a peaceful and well-participated vote. This election marks the first to be held since the United Nations concluded its peacekeeping mission in Liberia in 2018, a mission established after two civil wars claimed over 250,000 lives between 1989 and 2003.

  • APC Accuses Court of Appeal Panel of Compromise, Sparking Chaos

    APC Accuses Court of Appeal Panel of Compromise, Sparking Chaos

    By Daniel Edu

    Chaos erupted at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal during the hearing of State and National Assembly appeal cases from Imo State. The turmoil unfolded when the All Progressive Congress (APC) counsel, Echezona Etiaba, presented two petitions from his clients, alleging that the three-member panel had been compromised.

    In the letter read by the presiding Justice, the APC accused Damian Dodo (SAN), whom they claimed to be counsel for one of the appellants, of being the conduit to influence the panel, led by Justice Danjuma Mohammed, the presiding Judge of Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal. The other panel members are Justice Peter Affen from Yola Division and Justice Asmau’u Musa Mainoma, a newly appointed justice to the Court of Appeal.

    Notably, Damian Dodo was not the counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or Labour Party in any of the pre-election cases or the main tribunal in Imo State, and he did not represent any of the parties at the tribunal or before the Court of Appeal.

    Confronted with these allegations, the justices declared their innocence and chose to recuse themselves from the appeals of Imo State. They revealed that they were informed of their sitting partners and cases just before the court session.

    Lawyers present during the proceedings expressed anger and astonishment at the situation, with all the appeals left unheard. They criticized Echezona Etiaba for using his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to present unfounded and defamatory petitions, demanding that the panel recuse themselves. They also questioned his colleague’s conduct.

    Ajuonuma Stanley, one of the lawyers, called on the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee to investigate the matter and urged the President of the Court of Appeal to ensure that the case is heard by impartial individuals who cannot be compromised in completing their assignment. He emphasized that such allegations should not go without proper investigation, and the President of the court should exercise greater vigilance. Stanley also noted that the accusations against the PDP were unrelated to the appeal of Okigwe North Federal Constituency filed by LP candidate Chikwem Okafor.

  • Crisis Looms Between Akwa Ibom Lawmakers and Commissioners Over Committee Boycott

    Crisis Looms Between Akwa Ibom Lawmakers and Commissioners Over Committee Boycott

    By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

    There are strong indications that a crisis may erupt between the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and members of the State Executive Council over alleged boycott of committee invitations by some commissioners.

    This issue came to light after the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Kufre Abasi Edidem, who represents Itu State constituency, raised concerns during last Thursday’s plenary session.

    Edidem expressed his frustration over how some commissioners have been ignoring invitations sent to them by the House through its committees, labeling this attitude as disrespectful and unacceptable.

    He cited instances where the House received matters of public importance and passed resolutions to its committees, instructing them to engage with the relevant commissioners and special advisers. However, these officials consistently declined the invitations.

    Edidem said, “It’s rather sad to observe that a motion would be here, a resolution would be sent to a House Committee, and the Committee Chairman would send an invitation to the Commissioner in charge of the relevant Ministry, but the Commissioner refuses to honor the invitation. This attitude is a total deviation from the oath they took to serve Akwa Ibom people. These are the same people we screened and cleared here, in this hallowed chamber. We were elected by our people to make laws that would protect them.”

    In response, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Udeme Otong, expressed his disapproval of the situation and warned that, going forward, the House, under his leadership, would not hesitate to exercise its powers against any government official who undermines the legislature.

    He directed the chairpersons of the various committees to report any commissioner or special adviser who ignores their invitations for further action, stating, “In our standing order, if you invite a Commissioner or anybody to discuss the development and way forward, especially for the peace of Akwa Ibom State, and he or she refuses to appear, please bring it to my notice. This House will invite such a person to come and explain the reason for not responding to the invitation of the Committee Chairman.”

  • Appeal Court Invalidates APC’s Elisha Abbo, Declares PDP’s Yohanna Amos as Senator

    Appeal Court Invalidates APC’s Elisha Abbo, Declares PDP’s Yohanna Amos as Senator

    By Daniel Edu

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has declared the incumbent Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Ishaku Abbo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as not duly elected in the February 25th National Assembly election.

    The Appeal Court has instead proclaimed Rev. Amos Kumai Yohanna, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the rightful winner of the election. The court has also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke the Certificate of Return issued to the 2nd Respondent, Abbo, and transfer it to the 1st Petitioner, Yohanna.

    The initial result, declared by INEC on February 27, showed Senator Abbo, the incumbent, winning with 71,927 votes, defeating PDP’s Yohanna, who had 61,895 votes.

    Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Yohanna filed a case with the tribunal, alleging irregularities and violations of the Electoral Act. They argued that the election was tainted by corrupt practices and non-compliance with electoral laws, citing issues like overvoting, false entries, and the alteration and cancellation of votes at various polling units.

    The tribunal, however, dismissed the petition and ordered the petitioner, Yohanna, to pay damages of N600,000 to Abbo. Unhappy with this ruling, Yohanna pursued the case further to the Court of Appeal, which has now ruled in his favor.

    This legal battle between the two parties is believed to be influenced by political rivalry, with Governor Ahmadu Fintiri allegedly supporting Yohanna in a bid to unseat Abbo, who had defected from the PDP to the APC. Their strained relationship reportedly began after their joint electoral victory in 2019, caused by an intra-party power struggle within the PDP.

  • Here are five Nigerian politicians who faced controversies related to certificate forgery:

    Here are five Nigerian politicians who faced controversies related to certificate forgery:

    By Daniel Edu

    1. Dino Melaye:

    In 2017, the former senator faced allegations of forging his Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, which led to legal battles and debates about the authenticity of his academic records.

    2. Salisu Buhari:

    The former Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999 was involved in the “Toronto University Saga.” He falsified his age and university credentials, claiming to have graduated from Toronto University, which later turned out to be false. Buhari resigned and disappeared from public view but resurfaced in Nigerian politics years later.

    3. Nyesom Wike:

    Before the 2019 elections, Governor Nyesom Wike was sued for allegedly forging his Age Certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was accused of manipulating his age to qualify for the governorship election and faced allegations of providing false information about his birth date.

    4. Kemi Adeosun:

    The former Nigerian Finance Minister faced controversy for allegedly forging an NYSC exemption certificate, allowing her to skip the mandatory National Youth Service Corps program. She eventually resigned from her position but was later vindicated by the court.

    5. Ademola Adeleke:

    Before the 2018 Osun governorship election, Ademola Adeleke’s academic credentials were challenged. Reports revealed discrepancies in his O’ Level results and debunked his claim of earning a diploma from Jacksonville State University. Despite these controversies, he contested the election on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket but lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    These cases underscore the importance of verifying the educational qualifications of public officials and ensuring transparency in the political landscape.