Category: Politics

In a surprising turn of events, Professor Zaccaeus Adangor, SAN, the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, has rejected his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office) and tendered his resignation from the State Executive Council.

Adangor’s decision came swiftly, just 24 hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, which included his redeployment. Fubara issued the redeployment letter on Tuesday, through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo.

The reshuffle also involved the relocation of the State Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

Adangor and Kamalu, along with seven other commissioners, had previously resigned from Fubara’s cabinet amidst the political turbulence that engulfed the state. They are known loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a personally signed letter dated April 24, addressed to the SSG, Adangor expressed his rejection of the redeployment and his resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council.

In the letter titled, “Cabinet Reshufflement: Notice of Rejection of Deployment and Resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council,” Adangor accused Governor Fubara of interfering with the discharge of his duties as Commissioner.

Among his grievances, Adangor highlighted the governor’s directive for him to abstain from defending, opposing, or appearing in suits against his office and the Government of Rivers State, even when initiated by individuals funded by the state.

After serving dutifully for five years, Adangor stated that he no longer wished to continue under Governor Fubara’s administration, citing the need to preserve his reputation.

He concluded the letter by expressing his well wishes to the state administration under Governor Fubara.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has initiated an inquiry into the financial transactions of the state during the tenure of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

The investigation will cover the period from May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023, focusing on loans, financial transactions, contractual obligations, and other relevant matters.

In an official communication addressed to the Commissioner of Finance, Barr. Sakinatu Hassan Idris, the Clerk to the Legislature outlined the scope and purpose of the probe.

“The Kaduna State House of Assembly, at its One Hundred and Fiftieth (150th) Sitting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, resolved to constitute an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate Loans, Financial Transactions, Contractual Liabilities & Other Related Matters of The Government of Kaduna State from 29th May, 2015, to 29th May, 2023,” the letter stated.

The committee’s mandate, guided by the Assembly’s Standing Orders and Rules of 2019, as well as Sections 103, 128, and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), includes a comprehensive review of the state’s financial practices.

Referencing document LEG/S.382/VOL.II/615, the Assembly’s letter requested extensive documentation from the Commissioner.

The requested documents include details of total loans, approvals by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, executive minutes and resolutions, records of contractual payments, salary reports, KADRIS reports, loan terms and conditions, appropriation records, payments to contractors, payment modalities, and documents related to government property sales.

The Clerk emphasized the urgency and importance of compliance with the request, setting a deadline for the submission of documents.

“30 copies of the memo/documents should reach the office of the Clerk to the Legislature on or before Thursday, 25th April, 2024, by 10:00 am,” the directive concludes.

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has raised concerns over what it perceives as a deliberate campaign to tarnish the reputation of President Bola Tinubu in the northern region, allegedly orchestrated by a faction of the northern political elite.

According to Yerima Shettima, the President General of AYCF, there is a concerted effort to create disruptions and unrest in the North with the aim of hindering Tinubu’s potential reelection bid in 2027. Shettima alleges that this plot involves setting unattainable standards for the Tinubu administration, with the intention of discrediting it and swaying public opinion against it.

Moreover, Shettima claims that the ongoing vilification and destabilization campaign is specifically targeted at weakening Tinubu’s support base in the North, with Minister of State for Defense, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, being a primary target.

The AYCF views these actions as desperate attempts by certain power-seekers to impede the administration’s progress and undermine its anti-corruption efforts. Shettima warns against the propagation of false narratives and the utilization of obscure groups to undermine the president’s allies and tarnish his reputation.

In response, the AYCF calls on President Tinubu and his team to remain vigilant and steadfast in their commitment to Nigeria’s progress. They urge the President to be cautious of propaganda campaigns aimed at his administration and to focus on delivering on promises made to the Nigerian people.

The AYCF emphasizes the importance of the government staying focused on its objectives, remaining resilient in the face of challenges, and working towards ensuring a stable and prosperous future for Nigeria. Shettima highlights the absurdity of judging an administration barely a year old against unrealistic expectations and unforeseen circumstances, emphasizing the need for fair assessment and constructive criticism.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the final list of candidates for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21. Sam Olumekun, the INEC national commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, made this announcement in a statement released yesterday.

Olumekun stated that political parties are permitted to begin public campaigning from Wednesday, April 24, and conclude at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in accordance with items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

Following the initial primaries, the Commission published the personal details of the governorship candidates and their running mates in its state and local government offices in Edo State. Some political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates by the deadline of April 15, 2024. The Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their governorship candidates and their running mates. Additionally, the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party (BP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) replaced the running mates of their candidates only.

In total, 17 political parties are fielding candidates in the election, with 16 being male and one female. The final list, which includes the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications, and disability, has been published at the Commission’s office in Edo State and uploaded to its website and social media platforms for public access.

With the publication of the final list of candidates, the next phase of the election process is the electioneering campaign. Political parties are now allowed to commence campaigning in public from Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and conclude at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in accordance with electoral regulations.

As campaigning begins, the Commission emphasizes the need for candidates, agents, and supporters to adhere to the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing campaign activities. Parties are expected to conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum, avoiding inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions outlined in Sections 92 – 97 of the Electoral Act 2022.

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo

More than 200 electricity transformers procured and distributed to communities by the immediate past administration in Akwa Ibom has been vandalized, Governor Umo Eno has said.

He has also warned stakeholders and community leaders from across the three senatorial districts of the state that government would no longer invest resources to protect government assets if vandalized.

Eno who stated this weekend while addressing worshipers at the April edition of Government House Monthly Prayer Meeting in Uyo said replacing vandalized facilities to some communities while others were yet to have one, would no longer be tolerated.

The Governor expressed disappointment over the vandalization of the transformers however urged local communities to set up community vigilantes to protect government assets in their localities.

“People live in these communities, so when government brings transformer to your community and you cannot watch it or set up a system to protect it, and they are vandalized and you come again, understand that we have many communities in this state, and would not replace newly-installed transformers if the people there don’t know the value of transformers.

“You need to form a neighborhood watch or vigilante to protect those transformers and other government assets around you. These facilities belong to all of us, so be interested in them.” He said.

He decried attempts by some people to hijack and thwart government’s effort at reaching out to the elderly citizens through the ARISE Elders Initiative, saying that it was not meant for only PDP members and not for an individual stakeholder to select all beneficiaries.

According to Eno,”every month, each local government gives us at least fifteen elderly people so that we can help them with their medications. A lot of these people die because medical attention don’t get to them.

“We give them fifty thousand naira each a month. It is our ARISE initiative for the elderly, but we have recieved complaints that people have highjacked the process.

“Please, allow the process to run. One person cannot bring fifteen people. What is wrong with a local government chairman going to the paramount ruler, sit with him and make the selection? It is not supposed to be a PDP thing. government programmes are not meant for PDP members alone, It is meant for everybody. It should benefit everyone.” Eno explained.

He said he is not bordered by criticism over his inability to execute legacy projects maintaining that his rural development initiatives remained his legacy projects.

“A lot of people are asking us, what is your legacy project? For me, our legacy project is rural development. Everybody has his own style. The current reality demands that we do soft infrastructure, I call them soft infrastructures because you can do those hard ones and before people will use them, they are dead.

“That is not to say that we won’t do what we wanted to do. As we step into the second year, we are stepping up on what we wanted to do in line with our ARISE Agenda,” he added.

The State Chief Executive also advised the citizenry to take their security seriously, adding that recent happenings have shown that from everyone kidnapped in the State, 20 percent is by chance and 80 percent is information from people around the victim.

Earlier, on his message on the theme, “Deliverance from Wicked and Unreasonable Men,” the Senior Pastor, Precious Faith International
Rev. Emmanuel Iniama, said such men are everywhere adding that only through prayers, discernment, fasting and training can one be delivered from them.

Rivers State has long been a hotbed of political intrigue and power struggles, with recent events serving as a testament to its volatile nature. Despite the turbulence, however, the state has managed to navigate through its challenges, albeit with its fair share of controversies.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, Rivers State has played a significant role in national politics, often influencing presidential elections through its wealthy politicians. From Peter Odili’s bid for the PDP ticket in 2007 to Rotimi Amaechi’s pivotal role in ending the PDP’s 16-year rule in 2015 and Nyesom Wike’s support for a rival party in 2023, the state’s political landscape has been marked by drama and intrigue.

Established in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon’s regime, Rivers State has seen its fair share of military governors before transitioning to civilian rule. However, it wasn’t until 1999 that Dr. Peter Odili became the state’s first civilian governor, marking the beginning of PDP’s dominance in Rivers politics.

Odili’s tenure was not without its challenges, particularly in the twilight of his second term when internal opposition and external pressures threatened his preferred successor, Chibuike Amaechi. Despite Amaechi’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “k-leg” comment and subsequent refusal to endorse him created a rift within the party.

To ensure continuity in governance, Odili backed Amaechi’s nephew, Sir Celestine Omehia, as his replacement. However, the Supreme Court’s intervention saw Amaechi assume the governorship, leading to strained relations between him and Odili.

The rift between Odili and Amaechi persisted, fueled by differing accounts of the events surrounding Amaechi’s candidacy. While some attribute their fallout to Obasanjo’s intervention, others cite Amaechi’s refusal to acknowledge Odili’s support.

In 2015, Nyesom Wike emerged as Rivers State governor, with Odili’s backing playing a crucial role in his victory. Despite Wike’s previous allegiance to Amaechi, their relationship soured over time, culminating in Wike’s criticism of Odili’s support for Wike’s successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

According to observers, Odili’s unwavering support for Fubara strained his relationship with Wike, who viewed Fubara’s governorship as a betrayal. However, supporters argue that Odili’s actions are driven by a commitment to good governance and impartiality rather than personal allegiances.

In the intricate web of Rivers State politics, alliances shift, and loyalties are tested, but one thing remains constant – the pursuit of power and influence. As the state navigates its political landscape, the role of key players like Odili continues to shape its trajectory, for better or for worse.

Four governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have demanded the cancellation of the ongoing governorship primary election over alleged fraudulent activities by the seven-man APC Electoral Committee chaired by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State.

The aspirants, expressing loss of trust in Ododo’s ability to conduct a free and fair election, urged the national leadership of the party to remove him urgently. They raised concerns that the controversy surrounding the exercise could affect the outcome of the primary election and the November governorship poll.

Addressing journalists at the BON Hotel in Akure, the state capital, the aggrieved aspirants, led by Barrister Gbenga Edema, criticized the conduct of the exercise, highlighting discrepancies in the distribution of voting materials and the accreditation process.

Edema emphasized the need for a credible election and called on the party leadership to intervene. He suggested postponing the election if necessary steps were not taken to ensure fairness and transparency.

Similarly, Sola Ajisafe, representing another aspirant, Akinterinwa, condemned the appointment of Ododo and called for the appointment of a neutral individual to oversee a new primary election.

Echoing their sentiments, Rotimi Ogunleye, speaking on behalf of aspirant Olusola Oke, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the election process, urging adherence to the party’s guidelines and due process.

The aspirants warned that if the party leadership failed to address their concerns, they would take appropriate action, including rejecting any election results announced. They emphasized the importance of ensuring a free and fair electoral process to allow the people of Ondo State to choose their preferred candidate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has appointed Naymarie Musa as the new Acting Woman Leader of the party after suspending Maryam Sulaiman, who previously held the position.

The leadership change occurs amidst a political debate over the state’s debt profile, with Sulaiman having defended the previous administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Musa brings extensive experience to her new role, having previously served as the Assistant Woman Leader of the party in the state.

Speaking at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna on Thursday, Musa expressed her commitment to promoting unity and strengthening the party’s position ahead of the upcoming general elections.

“I am deeply devoted to serving the women of Kaduna State with dedication, integrity, and passion,” Musa stated, outlining her vision for an inclusive administration that prioritizes women’s interests and ensures accountability within the party.

“My goal is to consolidate Governor Uba Sani’s ‘Sustain Agenda’ and provide effective leadership to achieve new developmental milestones,” she emphasized, highlighting her commitment to focusing on women’s needs under her leadership.