₦airaland Forum

This is what I usually describe as "too close to comfort"

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress and member of the National Working Committee, Muritala Ajaka, has officially dumped the ruling party.

Ajaka was one of the four aggrieved aspirants who lost the ticket to former Auditor General of Local Governments, Ahmed Ododo, at the just concluded APC governorship primary in Kogi State.




Ododo polled 78, 704 votes to beat six other contestants including Ajaka and Senator Smart Adeyemi, who came seventh with 311 votes.

The loss has generated bad blood among the aspirants and further divided party loyalists in the state, with Adeyemi accusing Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, of imposing his ‘cousin’ on the people.

Adeyemi, who featured on Channels Television’s popular programme, Politics Today, last month, swore that contrary to the result sent to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, no APC primary election was held in the state.

He also described the entire process as a ‘rape of democracy.’

Ajaka, on the other hand, also kicked against the result, saying the outgoing governor has consistently marginalised and disrespected his Igala since he assumed office.


But Governor Bello has since presented his anointed candidate to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), further sought the endorsement of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to rally support for him.

Having failed to pick the ticket ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state, the deputy spokesman wrote a letter to APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Wednesday to inform him that he has officially dumped the party.


In a copy of the letter dated April 17, which was made available to our correspondent, Ajaka said, “I write to inform your good self and the National Working Committee of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress of my decision to resign my office as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary and also as member of the NWC.

“This gesture is a consequential act to the resignation of my membership, a notice of which I have already communicated in writing to the Chairman of APC, Ajaka Ward 1 in Igalamela/Odolu LGA of Kogi State.

“Kindly permit me to extol the exemplary brinkmanship, astuteness, sagacity and political dexterity with which Your Excellency, being supported by the current National Working Committee has successfully bonded the hitherto fragile fabrics of the Party; firmly enough to record the most eminent victories in the last general elections.

“Having proudly won the presidential election therefore, I have the utmost faith that the Party, under your able charge, will help the incoming administration to upgrade the standard of governance for the greater good of Nigerians.”

Although he failed to mention his next destination, sources revealed prior to his official resignation, the young politician was adopted by the Social Democratic Party as its governorship candidate last month.


Following his adoption, Ajaka will square up against Bello’s chosen candidate, Ododo, and one of the dark horses in the race, Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party.

To aid his campaign, residents and elders of the Igala kingdom have started drumming support for their sole candidate in the upcoming election.

While Ododo is from the central senatorial district of the state, Muri hails from the eastern axis and Melaye is from the western district.


https://punchng.com/deputy-spokesman-ajaka-dumps-apc/

Amid the leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party, the governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Kehinde Sogunle, the House of Assembly candidates, Local Government Party Chairmen and other stakeholders across the State have declared their support for the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee.


On Thursday, members of the party held a consolidation meeting at the NLC Secretariat, Abeokuta, reaffirming their trust in Abure, Peter Obi and the governorship candidate.

Recall that the Michael Ashade faction of the Labour Party in Ogun State had on Saturday claimed to be in charge of the party, months after its suspension by the Abure-led National Working Committee.


But speaking at the meeting, Sogunle urged LP members to look at things with equanimity and magnanimity.

He said, “Today, we are at the crossroads between crisis and several opportunities. If we can manage the crisis deftly, we can exploit the opportunities profitably. We should be consoled that we have made sacrifices and major contributions to the polity, to the people and the party. What is with us, is nothing compared to what is within us and ahead of us.”


Sogunle maintained that the Labour Party has consistently proven that where there is a will, there is a way.


The governorship candidate stressed that, “We have endured frustrations, cheating, betrayals, deceits and deceptions, yet we are still standing and posturing creditably and credibly. We have had many losses and made many mistakes. We are determined and undaunted that nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.”

Making a veiled reference to the Lamidi Apapa faction and its supporters in Ogun State, Sogunle exclaimed that “the major detractors have publicly exposed themselves and shown the world the indecorous stuff they are made of.”

He stated that, “we did not wrestle with their piggery behaviour, but showed them with supreme intelligence that you can win a war without a battle, as the days of their final disgrace and exit from the party is now! They have been castigated by leaders at home, yet they walked into the national scene dancing naked.”


In his words, the Acting Labour Party Chairman in Ogun, Lookman Jagun, enjoined members to remain calm, saying, “this is not the time of maximum or even optimum instant compensation nor rewards, but the time to put the house in order and ensure one voice by having some patience and develop the art of the long run.”

In their separate remarks, stakeholders at the meeting reiterated their support for the gubernatorial candidate and the State Party Caretaker Committee in ensuring peaceful co-existence among members.

The LP leaders vowed not to derail or be distracted by the “dramas” going on within the party, stressing that their mission is to see a New Nigeria through Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate.

They added that “regaining the stolen mandate of the Labour Party is our priority. The rumours of misappropriation of funds is just a written script by the paid sellouts, who want to cause disunity in the State.”

They declared: “Comrade Kehinde Sogunle is a reputable man, we believe in his leadership style, his pedigree and records. Abure remains our national Chairman. Jagun Lookman is our State Chairman and Comrade Kehinde Sogunle remains our committed leader. We stand on Peter Obi’s mandate. Ignore all rumours.”


https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/19/we-stand-with-abure-obi-ogun-lp-guber-candidate-others-declare/

Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court in Abuja, on Friday granted an order of stay execution on the suspension of Julius Abure , Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) and others.

Others are the National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as LP national officials.

The plaintiffs in the case are Martins Esikpali John; Lucky Shaibu; Isah Zekeri; Omogbai Frank; Abokhaiu Aliu; Ayohkaire Lateef; John Elomah and Dr Ayobami Arabambi,.

They had in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, sought the removal of Abure and the three other national officers of the party which the judge granted order of suspension.


The judge after listening to arguments from parties granted the order for stay execution pending the determination of the appeal filed by the defendants.


Justice Muazu had on April 5 issued an interim injunction stopping Abure, Ibrahim and the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as national officers of LP .

This was contained in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, brought before the court by the eight plaintiffs.

At the sitting today, the defendants told the court that they have a notice of appeal pending at the court, of appeal. .

After much arguments from parties, the judge granted order for a stay on the suspension.

Following the April 5 ex-parte injunction made by Justice Muazu, stopping Abure, Ibrahim and two other national officials of the party, Alex Ejesieme, SAN had on April 20 argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The senior advocate had submitted that the matter before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the Labour Party, adding that criminal allegations made by the plaintiffs in the case, could not be ventilated in an origination summon.

He added that the eight plaintiffs that brought the case before the court were not members of the National Executive Council of the party and as such lacked the locus standi to institute the case.

According to Ejesieme, “Our contention is very clear that those criminal allegations cannot be ventilated in an origination summon.

“The issue of locus standi is there. When you referred to LP’s constitution, the claimants are not members of NEC or the party.

They have a duty to present their membership cards to the court which they didn’t.”


While objecting to the preliminary objection raised by the counsel for Abure , counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr George Ibrahim, urged the court to dismiss same.

According to him, the first to fourth defendants had yet to obey the April 5 order of the court as they were still parading themselves as national officers of the LP.

With the ruling of the court on having jurisdiction to hear the case, its order of April 5 subsists.

The judge then adjourned until today to hear the substantive case.

Earlier , the plaintiffs had informed the court, through their counsel, Ogwu Onoja SAN, that Abure and the three other national officials allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court, including receipts, seal and affidavits, to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general election.


Onoja argued that following their indictment by police investigation, the four people are to be arraigned in court, adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/court-lifts-suspension-order-on-abure-other-lp-officers/

Members-elect for the 10th House of Representatives, on Wednesday, failed to honour the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for the sole aim of launching a campaign for Representative Abbas Tajudeen.


Tajudeen is one of the aspirants for the position of the Speaker for the 10th Assembly.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, had adopted Tajudeen, a member representing Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, for the position of Speaker in the next Assembly.


DAILY POST learnt that zoning of the number four citizen’s position to the North West and the subsequent adoption of Tajudeen, was the brainchild of Gbajabiamila, who allegedly prefers to continue holding grip of the 10th House of Representatives, thereby, making it possible for Tinubu to control the incoming Assembly.


But Gbajabiamila, during a meeting organized Wednesday night by the Joint Task Force for the 10th Assembly, an umbrella body for the actualization of Tajudeen’s ambition as Speaker, denied ever influencing the choice of the Kaduna-born politician.

He explained: “North West geopolitical zone alone contributed 30% of the total votes for APC in the last elections and if you conduct a proper research, the North West zone has not been considered for the number four position in the history of our parliament.”


He was, however, shocked to see a hall filled with support groups, journalists and spectators as the target audience, members-elect, who possess the voting powers, largely boycotted the meeting.

Sensing that the little number inside the hall might not necessarily be members and members-elect, whom he has sought to address, Gbajabiamila requested for an executive session, apparently to see if he has enough numbers to make his anointed candidate Speaker; only to be bewildered that only 73 members and members-elect honoured the invitation.

The visibly angered Speaker was seen leaving the Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, just two minutes after asking for an executive session.


A lawmaker who was in attendance and spoke with DAILY POST on the condition of anonymity, explained that: “Gbaja was not happy seeing the number of lawmakers in attendance and I think he has sensed danger, as an experienced politician, that his preferred candidate won’t fly”.

Asked if he was going to support Tajudeen, the lawmaker who just won his election under the Labour Party, said he was actually at the meeting, like some of his friends, who got an invitation that Rep. Gbajabiamila was going to address both returning and new Members, only to see that it was a forum to sell the candidacy of Tajudeen.

“Some of my colleagues understood the reason for the meeting, but innocent me, like few of my friends I interacted with in the hall, didn’t get the notion behind the invitation until we got here and we decided to sit and listen to whatever they had to say. I was personally disappointed seeing just a few Members in attendance because I had thought they got all the votes since it’s their party that selected this man for Speaker.

“But since their own Members cannot honour their party and most of them stayed off, is it we from the minorities that would support APC? Even though we are more than them in number, we would not be used to project mediocrity or support the composition of a rubber-stamped Assembly. The institution of the National Assembly is supposed to be an independent Arm of Government and not an appendage of another arm of Government.

“The minority caucus has been meeting lately and we shall make our stand known soon. We shall throw our weight behind anyone we feel have the capacity and independent mind to make the 10th House work for the people of Nigeria and not for an individual. We shall support such a person, regardless of any region or State he or she comes from. About 358 Members are going to cast their votes to decide the next Speaker and I don’t think, this number I’m seeing here tonight can make one-quarter of the deciding votes”, the member-elect added.

https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/18/speakership-low-turnout-as-gbajabiamila-launches-campaign-for-tajudeen/

Fresh facts emerged, on Tuesday, as to why the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, met separately with former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in Paris, on Monday.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that Tinubu met with Kwankwaso during which he extended a hand of friendship with a view to working together after he takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.


However, credible sources told our reporter that it was a tripartite meeting in Paris as besides the one between Tinubu and Kwankwaso, another one was held between the president-elect and Sanusi and then another one between Kwankwaso and the former emir.

“The three separate meetings were meant to strengthen ties. The president-elect seriously needs the support of the two leading personalities from Kano,” one of our sources said.

Tinubu holds peace talk with Kwankwaso in France

Split in Kano over Kwankwaso’s statement on Sanusi’s dethronment

“While Kwankwaso is a politician in his own right who has a large followership not only in Kano but across the North, the former emir is a technocrat who knows the economy very well as evident in how he handled the Central Bank of Nigeria,” another source said.




The first meeting

According to sources, Tinubu and Kwankwaso met for hours in Paris, capital of France.

The former Lagos governor reportedly told Kwankwaso to reach out to his political associates on the need to work together.

The incoming president and his guest were said to have agreed to hold subsequent meetings.

But beyond that, it was gathered that the president-elect had offered a ministerial position to Kwankwaso.

“He told the NNPP leader to choose between the ministry of agriculture and that of education,” one of our sources said.

It is not clear whether Kwankwaso will accept to serve as a minister in the event they sealed the partnership or he will give the slot to one of his loyalists.

“The meeting was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila. Kwankwaso was accompanied to the meeting by member-elect from Kano, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin,” the source said.

“Sen Oluremi Tinubu was also there to receive Kwankwaso’s wife, Hajia Salamatu who came with her husband. Discussions were centred around their long term friendship since their days in the National Assembly in 1992, national unity and development, priorities for the new government, National Assembly contests and the plan by the president-elect for a government of national unity, which Kwankwaso has in principle accepted to join.”

The source said Tinubu also hinted at reconciling Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Kwankwaso. Ganduje had succeeded Kwankwaso in 2015, but the duo fell apart shortly after.

Daily Trust reports that Tinubu had defeated Kwankwaso and other 16 presidential candidates in the February 25, 2023 elections.

Kwankwaso, who ran on the platform of the NNPP, placed fourth in the election, winning only Kano State, a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) came third.

Soon after his declaration, Tinubu extended an olive branch to those he defeated but Atiku and Obi rebuffed the call and headed to court calling for his sack. Both of them had claimed victory in the polls and alleged that they were rigged out by the ruling party in connivance with some vested interests.

On the other hand, Kwankwaso did not go to court.

Besides winning Kano in the presidential election and producing the governor, Kwankwaso’s NNPP had won two senate seats in the state, cleared 17 out of the 24 House of Representatives seats and 26 out of 40 seats of the State House of Assembly.

It was gathered that despite losing Kano in the presidential election to Kwankwaso, Tinubu believed the votes he got from the state and the North West played a key role in his emergence as president and working hard to maintain a positive disposition in the region.

The North West gave Tinubu 2, 652, 235 votes, which is over 30 per cent of the total votes he garnered across the country.

Our correspondent reports that the relationship between Tinubu and Kwankwaso is not new. They collectively formed the APC with other like-minds ahead of 2015.



The meeting between Tinubu, ex- Emir Sanusi

There were no details of what Kwankwaso and Emir Sanusi discussed but a source said they met for two hours and the discussion may not be unconnected with the recent political developments in Kano.

However, Daily Trust reports that there were rumours that the incoming NNPP government in Kano will revisit the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi.

Recall that Ganduje dethroned Sanusi, who served as the 14th Emir of Kano, in 2020, over allegations of insubordination.

In his place, Aminu Bayero, son of the late Ado Bayero and Emir of Bichi, was installed as Sanusi’s replacement.

However, in a viral video posted on social media in April this year, Kwankwaso said he was confident that Abba Yusuf, governor-elect of the state, would have the wisdom to resolve “challenges” in the state.

“We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by God’s grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off,” Kwankwaso said.

He said the opportunity to revisit Sanusi’s dethronement has presented itself and that he would advise the incoming government on what to do as an elder.

“We, as elders in the movement, will continue to advise them to do things that are proper,” Kwankwaso said.

“We tried not to talk about whether the emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there.

“Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine the right thing to be done.

“Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging.

“We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano State so that everyone will live peacefully in Kano State,” he said.

But Ganduje had fired back the salvo saying the new emirates had come to stay.

Speaking during the Workers’ Day celebrations held at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Ganduje said God will not bring any body that will destroy them.

“Any of you that visits the headquarters of these new emirates will believe me that we have brought development to these places. These emirates were created for unity, progress, history, and also for the recovery of the reputation of the traditional institutions. We created them to honour the people of these regions.

“I want to assure you that these emirates are permanent, they have come to stay. And anybody that will destroy them, God Almighty will not bring him to Kano State. We assure you that these emirates were created because of you, because of your progress.

“Even if we are not in government, we are praying and we will keep praying for God to protect these emirates from all evils. I thank you all,” Ganduje said.



Details of Kwankwaso, Sanusi meeting sketchy

Our correspondent reports that even though the meeting between Kwankwaso and the former Emir of Kano had been confirmed, the details of what transpired have not been made public. But sources said Kwankwaso and Sanusi had been there for each other for a very long time. Kwankwaso was instrumental in the selection of Sanusi as Emir of Kano. This was soon after he was removed as CBN governor by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria ahead of his inauguration on May 29.

https://dailytrust.com/real-reasons-tinubu-met-with-kwankwaso-ex-emir-sanusi-in-paris/

A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari has insisted he’s still in the race for Senate President.


Yari, who is now a Senator-elect, stated this on Monday while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the induction ceremony of new and returning members of the National Assembly.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, had nominated Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.


Yari, however, claims every lawmaker has the right to seek elective positions.

“I am a loyal party man, nobody has told me that any position has been zoned to anywhere as far as the 10th National Assembly is concerned.

“Position of president of the senate is first among equals among the 109 senators. Any senator-elect who wants to occupy the position must seek the support of others which I am doing,” Yari said.

https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/16/i-dont-know-about-apc-zoning-formula-i-want-to-be-senate-president-yari/

There was pandemonium on Monday afternoon as some youths in Mopelufa, Adamo, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, the venue of the burial of popular Yoruba actor, Murphy Afolabi, prevented Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, from accessing the thespian’s burial ground.

The youths, who said they were “omo adugbo,” demanded that Mr Latin “settle” them before they would allow him access to the burial ground.

Mr Latin, who is the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria, arrived at the location around 3:00pm.


The issue was later resolved and Mr Latin was eventually granted access to Afolabi’s burial ground.

The body of the deceased had yet to arrive at the venue for burial as of the time of filing this report.

https://punchng.com/murphy-afolabi-area-boys-prevent-mr-latin-from-accessing-burial-venue/?amp

obembet:
I saw alot of people unfriend themselves because of Thier political views, alot of people have Insulted themselves, curse Thier tribes and family just because of politics.

Many people also have mentality that if president come from Thier region, it will make Thier region a better place than every other region, but they never learn from Jonathan, Obasanjo and Buhari experience

From my little experience, Politicians will eat on the same table after insult and embarrassed themselves on national TV.

Let me share some we examples of Politicians who Embarrassed themselves because of Thier personal Interest, yet they are still good friends

Olagunsoye Oyinloa vs Aregbesola

Both of them were Osun state formal Governors, if you ask anybody from Osun about Osun between 2007-2009, it was terrible, you will think that both of them will kill themselves whenever they see each other one on one. But guess what, it was help of Oyinloa that make aregbesola win second terms, Oyinlola work massively for Buhari 2015. The bad new about this is that many people lose Thier life because of this people expecially in Ilesha Osun State

2. Good luck Jonathan and Tinubu

Tinubu as always be on opposition side base on his own political views, this same Tinubu work massively for Jonathan 2011 when he abandoned his own party man. If you see Jonathan and Tinubu working together, don't be surprised, they were good friend before politics.

Atiku vs Tinubu

It's visible to the blinds that Atiku and his good friend Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as work together many times both in politics and friendship part. Both candidates respect themselves in everyway and after politics, they are still friends.

Atiku and Peter Obi

Peter Obi and Atiku is like father and son both in politics and and fatherly love for many years, both of them are in same party before presidential election and peter Obi still respect Atiku even after election.

Wike and Tinubu

Everyone believe that wike and APC are two parallel lines, but guess what, it's all a game of interest, they are all one before and after election. I remember when wike share how Tinubu help him when he almost lose Biokpomabo Awara, since then, everyone who understand politics will know that this people are same. They only fight on national TV because of person interest.

Keyomo, FFK vs Tinubu

I remember when kayemo sue Tinubu for drug case 2002 while FFK vow to die if he ever support APC., All this is just a game. They are all friends.

Now see how this people playing their games just because of Thier personal Interest yet you almost kill your friend because his own political views. How does it sound you?

Many people even unfriend thier guys because of politicians.

conclusion

So any friendship that was destroyed because of the election wasn't worth it in the first place.

Kindly add yours

Source: Obembe Tosin


Nlfpmod
Seun
mynd44
Lalasticlala

Obembet, sometimes it worth it

Let me ask you, what is the moral thing to do when you realise that your friend supports a Notorious narcotic drug trafficker, a character with identity crisis, an individual who built a conduit pipe from the coffers of lagos State treasury to his personal company to become the president of Nigeria.
The best thing to do is to sever ties with such an individual

duro4chang:
Haters are going down and will continue to go down. I can see them going down. I can see them wailing.

Why does the APC, Tinubu and his supporters hate the Igbos so much

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said his side are still ‘mathematically’ in the race for the Premier League title, stressing that ‘this is football’.

The Gunners had topped the table for much of the season as they tried to end a 19-year wait to win the title.

But under relentless pressure from City, who have won 11 consecutive league games, the wheels have come off for Arsenal in recent months.

Arteta’s men have now won just two of their last seven games.

“We have to apologise because the performance we had in the second-half is not acceptable,” Arteta told Sky Sports.


“Mathematically (winning the league) it’s still possible and this is football but today it is impossible to be thinking about it. We have to first digest the result, the performance that we had in the second half, and understand why and have a very different reaction in the next game.”

City will win the title for the fifth time in six seasons, and for a third year in a row, if Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Even if Arteta’s men respond at Forest, the title will still go to City if the leaders win at home to Chelsea on May 21 or take three points in their other two matches at Brighton and Brentford.

Arsenal have surpassed expectations just by being involved in the title race and they have secured Champions League qualification for the first time in seven seasons.

But Arteta said his side’s failure to respond after falling behind to Julio Enciso’s header early in the second-half is a red flag ahead of next season.

Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan rubbed salt in Arsenal wounds in the closing stages as Brighton took a huge step towards European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.

“We concede a goal and from there the team had no reaction,” added Arteta.

“When you give away the silly goal we gave away, the second one, the team collapsed and had no answers.

“If the team is able to do that there is something we have to address.”

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard accepted that the title race is as good as over.


“Yeah it feels like that,” said the Norwegian. “It is going to be very difficult now we have to be honest. It is tough to take.

“It is not a good feeling at the moment. The way we played, particularly in the second half, I don’t know what happened to be honest. It feels like there is no hope now.”

Despite their late collapse, Odegaard insisted his young teammates had been mentally tough enough for the pressure of the title race.

“We wanted to come here and continue like we have in the last two games, get a good result and keep pushing. It is a big disappointment,” he said.

“In the first half we did a lot of good things and had moments to create big chances but we gave them more and more momentum in the second half.


“I don’t think mentality was an issue. We were good going into the game but in the game was a different story and we have to accept it and learn from it.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/arsenal-can-mathematically-still-win-league-arteta/

obembet:
One of my colleagues in office used to argue that Messi can’t perform outside Barcelona and I’m trying to understand that, example Ronaldo won golden boot in England, Spain and Italy but Messi even farmers league he can’t do everything since two seasons ago.

So I don't blame PSG fans, they only overrated Messi. They think he will deliver them in Champion league 🏆 but the boy was no where to be find, expecially against Bayern Munich, thank God they didn't face Manchester United or Manchester City.

The only way for Messi to be relevant again is to go back to Barcelona where he's WiFi works.

Nlfpmod

Obembet, this argument of who is the greatest between messi and ronaldo have long been settled

Messi is the greatest of all time

Throwback:
You mean a member of Zenith Labour Party who was only hired to be campaign DG, is questioning the integrity of a Labour Party founding member?

There is nothing Obi cannot destroy in his desperate ambition that he must be President of Nigeria some day.

He wanted to decieve us that he was different, but time exposed him.

Stop disgracing yourself all over nairaland

xtgozie:
Rivers or Lagos

But you said you have gotten

Former Anambra State Governor, and presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the last election, Mr Peter Obi has insisted that he must be President of Nigeria.


Obi, who is in court with the winner of the just concluded election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said he is convinced in his spirit that he will be President.

DAILY POST reports that the LP candidate spoke during the launch of a book written in his honour: ‘Peter Obi: Many Voices, One Perspective’, in Awka, Anambra State.


Obi said: “Anyone who thinks I’m on transit is wasting his time. Let me tell you, I must be the president of this country. I’m sure of that. If it is not today, it must be tomorrow.

“Other people who want to be, should come and tell us what they want to do, and how to do it. This is my country, I don’t have dual citizenship. If anyone thinks I am going to run away from Nigeria, they are lying.


“I have three engagements in Anambra and Lagos today. I will be speaking in Lagos tonight. We will not leave Nigeria. I am not in a hurry to become the president, but I know it must happen.


“For three years I was in court in Anambra to reclaim my governorship, just to challenge the process. Many people tried to discourage me, but I said even if the entire four years tenure elapsed for us to prove a point and correct the process, I will be fulfilled.

“My argument is that, let’s do what is right. I always tell everyone that I will not give people money to do the wrong thing. I have been the chairman of a committee; TETFUND committee, and Prof Mahmood was my member. We know ourselves, but when he became INEC chairman, I have never met him. I told him, you’re an umpire, just do what is right.


“If you have the chance to do the right thing, and you insist on perpetuating anarchy, then, it will consume everybody one day. I insist that we must do the right thing.

“I was in an event yesterday in Abuja, and it was World Food Organisation. I listened to report that stated that Nigeria will face intense hunger in years to come.

“It is Nigeria that will face hunger, not Peter Obi. The report listed Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as the states that will be worse hit, but those three states put together are five times larger in land mass of Israel, yet Egypt exports food, but Nigeria cannot feed itself.

“So we must cultivate a habit of doing the right thing. If we don’t do the right thing, it will consume us some day.”

One of the editors of the book, Prof Chinyere Okunna in her remarks said the launching was geared towards raising funds for the financing of the matter before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

“We believe in Obi. He is not a saint, but among all the people who contested to become president, none comes close to him in humility, education, love of the people, experience and knowledge.

“Litigation is a very capital intensive project and we want to support him through this launching. It was very clear that Obi won the election, but we want to call on the judiciary to be upright in their judgement and do the right thing,” she said.

https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/12/i-must-be-president-of-nigeria-peter-obi-insists/

Thiago Silva is set to pull the plug on his Chelsea contract and move back to his native Brazil this summer.

The Brazillian has been a pivotal player for Chelsea since moving from Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2020.


Silva has been a regular in the central defence of the Blues and was recently rewarded with a one-year extension of his contract.

According to Globe Esporte, Silva is now keen to terminate his Chelsea contract at the end of the season because he wants to move back to boyhood club Fluminense.


The Rio de Janeiro-based side are second in Brazil’s Serie A and recently signed Real Madrid legend Marcelo.


This comes weeks after Silva had torn into Chelsea’s miserable campaign, itemizing some of the factors responsible for the dip in the club’s performance this season.

“I think the first step has been made,” he said. “An incorrect step, but it has been made. We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility. It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision.

“Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad. A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy.

“There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough. Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/thiago-silva-wants-chelsea-contract-canceled-after-todd-boehly-criticism/

Nnamdi Kanu’s Senior Counsel, Mike Ozekhome has told the Supreme Court that he is scared that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) might die in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ozekhome, during the hearing on Thursday, told the apex court that Kanu’s health issues have deteriorated and he needs a surgical operation.

The lawyer asked the court to rule in favour of the transfer of Kanu from DSS custody to Kuje correctional centre so that he can begin treatment.

“My Lords, Nnamdi Kanu is sick, he has been approved for surgery but they have refused to release him for treatment,” BBC News Pidgin quoted Ozekhome as saying.


“We are pleading for him to be transferred from DSS custody to Kuje correctional centre so that he can begin treatment like others.


“He’s getting really sick, I’m scared he may die in the custody of DSS. Dead bodies are not prosecuted.”

Reacting to Ozekhome’s plea, the apex court responded that God will keep the self-determination agitator alive and that he will not die in detention.

The court said even if it proceeds to hear the appeal, there is no space within its calendar to write and deliver the verdict within the 90-day deadline.

“Nnamdi Kanu will not die in detention. God will keep him alive and his blood won’t be in your hands,” the court said.

The apex court added that the court will hear all the motions in the case on the resumption of hearing on September 14.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/im-scared-nnamdi-kanu-may-die-ozekhome-tells-scourt/

•APC zoning creating tension, cannot guarantee unity, Izunaso warns

•North-Central Senators write APC chairman, decry zoning exclusion




Aspirants for the senate presidency have rejected the adoption of a former minority senate leader and ex-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, by the All Progressives Congress for the position of President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly.

The contestants faulted the party’s position on the National Assembly leadership announced after its National Working Committee meeting last week and demanded fresh zoning of the principal offices.

Also, aggrieved aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday stormed the APC headquarters in Abuja, where they demanded a fresh zoning formula.

The NWC had endorsed Akpabio from the South-South geopolitical zone as the President of the 10th Senate while Senator Barau Jibrin from the North-West was picked as his deputy.

Also in the House of Representatives, the APC endorsed Tajudeen Abass from the North-West as the Speaker and Benjamin Kalu from the South-East as deputy.


The decision of the party to allocate two of the four presiding positions in the 10th National Assembly to the North-West and none to the North-Central stirred protests and outrage among the lawmakers and aspirants.

A frontline aspirant for the Senate presidency, Senator Osita Izunaso, said the zoning had created tension and cautioned the party leadership to take steps to douse it by coming up with a zoning arrangement that would guarantee unity and national cohesion.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Izunaso said the outcry and protests that erupted following the announcement of the provocative formula showed that the arrangements were not acceptable to the majority of the newly elected legislators and Nigerians, adding that it should therefore be discarded without any delay.

The Imo senator said he agreed with the position of the NWC on the need for “further and better consultations” by all the necessary stakeholders of the party in reaching a workable zoning formula for the principal offices of the National Assembly.

Izunaso said as the most suitable person for the senate presidency, being the highest-ranking Senator from the South-South and South-East with legislative experience spanning several years.

“Equally, if you want to go with the Not-Too-Young Act, one of the greatest achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, I am the youngest of all the aspirants, the face of the youths, representing the most agitated demography in the country today. It is me. I am indeed the best and the next person for Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Emi Lokan,’’ he declared.

As the opposition against the APC’s decision gained more traction, a source said the NWC members had realised they made a mistake in their decisions.


The source stated, ‘’The NWC realised they made a mistake by naming individuals. They should just have zoned. The President-elect has also been briefed on the error made by NWC. Whatever happens, the President-elect is only interested in the APC producing the leadership of the two chambers, not individuals.’’

Akeredolu fumes

The Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu also condemned the zoning arrangement adopted by the party leadership.

Akeredolu, in a statement he issued on Wednesday, drew attention to the allocation of two positions to the North-West while the North-Central got none.

According to him, the zoning formula represented “early signs of steps aimed at attempts to cabin the hard-earned Presidency for our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by a few individuals with eyes on ‘Aso Rock power buttons.”

The governor’s statement was titled, ‘Proposed APC zoning formula for NASS leadership positions is a skewed arrangement that reinforces injustice and enhances inequity.’

The statement read, “It is trite to aver that it stands logic on the head that one geo-political zone, North-West in this regard, will be favoured with two presiding officers positions out of four while North-Central suffers the consequences for its innocence and shrewd loyalty by having none.


“It is an insidious permutation that North-East will be deprived in the face of the unsavoury generosity dispensed through two slots to a particular geo-political zone. It is self-repudiating for one to argue, therefore, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot also emerge from the North-East.

“Therefore, the move to zone the National Assembly leadership positions on the behest of interested personalities with perceived closeness to the President-elect manifestly lays the dangerous foundation of distrust, and needless suspicion even as it structures nothing but a combination of booby traps. We must avoid all these.’’

He further described the arrangement as an unworkable arrangement that reinforced injustice and enhances inequity ‘’and I join them in rejecting this zoning formula.’’

He frowned on the relegation of the Progressive Governors Forum in the scheme of things, describing the party’s action as a disservice to them.

The Ondo State governor said a consensus had yet to be reached when the NWC hurriedly released ‘’a dangerous tool for the opposition in the guise of a zoning formula. To me, even on this note, it’s unacceptable.’’

He noted, “Does it not also exude a serious discomfort that the aspirants to the speakership were not consulted, approached and effectively engaged before the purported zoning formula? It does, and clearly so.

“It is in this regard that I salute the courage of the speakership aspirants for their show of solidarity, companionship and applaudable love for the party in their rejection, resentment and objection to the brazenly teleguided zoning arrangement that is skewed and targeted against some zones and identified individuals. Their action is commendable just as they are urged to ensure they pursue this to a logical conclusion.”


He added, “I call on the NWC of our great party to follow the path of purity and justice. It is perhaps expedient that Mr President-elect interrogates this skewed arrangement and gives direction that reflects our collective commitment to equality and fairness.

“In this particular case, and for the purpose of avoiding a repeat of untoward situations, it is advised that the APC NWC immediately summons the National Executive Committee after robust National Caucus/Stakeholders parley to agree on terms that would strengthen our great party.’’

North-Central lawmakers

In the same breath, Senators-elect across the North-Central geopolitical zone from different political parties have rejected the APC’s zoning arrangement for the National Assembly for excluding their region.

In an open letter to the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, they said only the North-Central geopolitical zone did not produce any presiding officer, the president-elect and vice president-elect.

The protest letter signed by 18 lawmakers-elect was titled, ‘Resolution of the North-Central Caucus of the 10th Senate on NASS Leadership Zoning.’

The signatories include Senators Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East); Ashiru Oyelola (Kwara South); Sadiq Umar (Kwara North), Isah Jibrin (Kogi East) and Senator-elect Mustapha Saliu (Kwara Central).


Others are Senators Abba Moro (Benue South); Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North); Senator-elect Ahmed Aliyu Wadada(Nassarawa West); Senators-elect Ireti Kingibe (FCT); Sunday Karimi Steve (Kogi West); Ohere Abubakar (Kogi Central) and Peter Jiya (Niger South) and others.

The letter read partly, ‘’We, the North Central Senators-elect Caucus met on Monday the 8th May 2023 and resolved as follows:

“That the North Central as a geopolitical zone in Nigeria has paid its dues in the political stability of the country and shall continue to do so, but where we see an open denial of our rights and privileges, we will have no option than to voice out in the interest of the zone and its people we represent.

“It is pertinent to know that we are fully committed to supporting the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a better Nigeria. This can only happen if fairness, equity and justice are ensured. It is on record that the North-Central gave the APC 41 per cent of her votes to victory, hence we equally deserve as others.”

A Senator-elect from Kano South Senatorial District on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Suleiman Kawu, warned the president-elect to avoid sycophants from deceiving him into taking a wrong decision on the National Assembly leadership issue.

Kawu, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said a majority of the lawmakers-elect were already planning to work against the APC zoning arrangements.

“We are in touch with 109 senators and I will assure you that we have a serious number to stop imposition in the Senate or the House of Representatives. We are in consultations and politics is a game of numbers, it’s a game of persuasion, and interface and we are doing it. We will cross the bridge when we get there,’’ he stated.


On his part, the Media aide to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Kamen Chuks, noted that the Senate South-East caucus felt the choice of a consensus was a premature one.


He added that the caucus believed that the President-elect should have consulted widely with them before releasing a person as a consensus candidate.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Chuks said” The South East caucus feels the release of a consensus candidate is premature and proper and wide consultation, particularly to the South East should have been made.

“ The South East senators have no issue with the president-elect, we only want him to start afresh because the South Westerners are aggrieved with the policies of the current Buhari administration has made the Igbos feel marginalised.

“The voter apathy from the South East isn’t because the Igbo hate Asiwaju, they are only protesting against the marginalisation of the current administration.”

He said, “In the current administration, the President is from North-West; Vice President, South-West; Senate President, North-East; Deputy Senate President, South-South and others.

“The South East got nothing and the President-elect should not just give it the Deputy Speaker position.


“The position is not enough to assuage the grievances of the Igbo from past cases of marginalisation.”

The South East lawmakers further noted that the South-South can not claim to be marginalised as the zone produced the current Deputy Senate President and a former President of the country.

South-East kicks

Chuks noted, “ The South-South produced the current Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, also they held the president seat for six years under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.”

Also, Emeka Nwala, an aide to the chief whip of the ninth Senate, Orji Kalu, noted that it was S Akpabio who should step own.

He said, “Senator Akpabio should support OUK for equity and fairness.’’

Also, the Coalition of Northern Groups has asked the APC to allow lawmakers-elect principal officers of the 10th National Assembly, through a democratic process.


While addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, spokesperson for the CNG, Abdulazeez Suleiman, said the group noted a plot by “certain Interests groups” in the APC, to impose Akpabio as President of the Senate, to the detriment of other aspirants and democracy itself.

Despite the outrage against the zoning, the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the APC and opposition parties in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday night adopted the zoning plan of the ruling party.

In attendance, for the first time, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, consensus candidates of the APC, and leaders of other opposition coalitions and alliances.

Addressing journalists after the closed-door meeting that lasted about two hours, Abbas expressed his happiness that the APC chose him to be the next Speaker of the House based on competence.

When asked how he felt about being nominated by the party, Abbas said, “I feel elated, I feel inspired, because I believe that if the party is going to use competence as its yardstick, I’m the right person to actually be picked. So for the fact that they did what I expected them to do, I feel very elated; I feel very satisfied.”

Responding to a question on other aspirants who are aggrieved with the alleged imposition of candidates by the APC, the lawmaker disclosed that efforts were being made to pacify them.

The PUNCH reports that a group comprising the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase; Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa; Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara; Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli; and a former member of the House who is now member-elect, Sani Jaji, has vowed to oppose the APC candidates adopted by the party for the NASS leadership.


But Abbas said, “We are in the process (of reconciling with aggrieved aspirants). We have reached out to so many (of them), and we will continue reaching out to all of them. Before the end of next week, I assure you – all the candidates and all the contestants – we will beg them. We will ask them to come on board so that we can work for the good of the institution.”

Meanwhile, candidates of the APC in the House met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the president-elect separately on Tuesday.

Videos and photographs and video recordings released by the secretariat of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, which is currently managing their campaign, showed Obasanjo and Tinubu welcoming Abbas and Kalu, respectively.

Kalu took to his Twitter handle, @OfficialBenKalu, on Tuesday night, to announce the meeting with Obasanjo.

He tweeted, “A moment of respect and shared vision as the former President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, warmly received the nominated candidates nominated for the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives.”

He, however, did not state where the meeting was held and the media aide to the former President, Kehinde Akinyemi, said he was not aware of the meeting.

Wase, others protest


In furtherance of their opposition to the party decision, frontline aspirants for the position of the Speaker on Wednesday stormed the APC secretariat in Abuja, to register their displeasure over the imposition of consensus candidates ahead of the 10th Assembly inauguration.

The delegation, which was led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, held a crucial meeting with the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee shortly after their arrival.

In attendance were Sani Jaji (Zamfara), Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau); Muktar Betara (Borno), Mariam Onuoha (Imo), Sada Soli (Kastina); Femi Bamishile (Ekiti), Abubakar Nakraba (Nasarawa) and Ahmed Jaha (Borno).

While accusing the leadership of the ruling party of betraying the trust of the lawmakers through its sudden imposition of candidates, Wase lamented that the APC leadership did not even deem it fit to consult with them before taking its decision.

He said, “You recall in one of the meetings that you (Adamu) summoned us to the Villa with the vice president. You told us to step down and wait for a zoning arrangement. While doing that, as politicians, we slowed things but everybody continued the fight to get the favour of our colleagues. Some of us have also tried to reach out to Members of the NWC and critical stakeholders around the country to ensure that we have their buy-in.

“Unfortunately, you also told us to slow down further because of the governorship election so that the party will not be distracted while we wait for another meeting that will be convened. That meeting didn’t come to fruition. Those of us who are here aspiring were not called for that meeting. (Instead) what we saw on social media was (that position was) micro-zoned to particular individuals, saying these are the people that had been picked by the party.

“As I speak to you, Sir, I want to say categorically that none of us here was approached or consulted even for a second to seek our opinion on what was going to be done. While trying to convince ourselves it was one of the social media reports, we saw the spokesman of our party on television confirming that there was actual negotiation or consultation that resulted in the list (of consensus candidates) produced. It is unfortunate.


Speaking further, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, reiterated that he was subsequently to discover that the criterion deployed in the choice of Abbas was his PhD qualification and the number of bills sponsored.

The lawmaker also expressed disbelief that the president-elect was a party to the choice of consensus candidates announced by the APC.

Betara, another aspirant in the race, also expressed disappointment in the manner the ruling party handled its zoning arrangement.

According to him, he had done more than enough to deserve the respect of Tinubu and the party going by his loyalty to Gbajabiamila over the years.

Reacting to the complaints, the national chairman of the APC called for restraint and understanding, stressing that they are still consulting with stakeholders.

Adamu also argued that the party had previously warned many of the aspirants at a previous meeting to allow the president-elect, NWC members and other stakeholders to take a decision before raising their hope.

He noted, “We have listened to you and don’t intend to open discussions right now in respect of your submissions. When you listen to the release from this office, we did say very clearly that we would endeavour to do more consultations to carry with us the greater number of members of this great party.


“There is nothing we do that may not be challenged here and there. But let us be able to attend the best possible means to consult with people and give them their right to a fair hearing before we can say whether we are changing positions or not. We will re-invite all Senators and House of reps-elect in due course after the National Assembly election.’’

https://punchng.com/senate-presidency-dissent-in-apc-aspirants-demand-fresh-zoning-formula/

yarimo:
or hire someone that will be sleeping in court

You have been so disappointed with the outcome of the supreme court judgement as regards the Osun State election.
More wailing awaits you and your likes at the PEPT when the stolen mandate will be retrieved

So ireti is IPOB


This is one of Tinubu's best brain that will rule Nigeria starting from May 29

fashrola:
I need a legit plug for express car plate number & Registration for Naija used car

Which state plate number do you need

garfield1:
The supreme court simply said that 25% is needed in two third of abia,Adamawa,akwa ibom,anambra,bauchi,bayelsa,benue,borno,cross river,delta,edo,ekiti,ebonyi,Enugu,rivers,ogun,osun,Oyo,ondo,Lagos,imo,kwara,Niger,nasarawa,kogi,plateau, sokoto,kebbi,katsina,kano,kaduna,jigawa,gombe,taraba,yobe,zamfara and fct.the AND is because the fct is the last.it is jointly used.

Looking at the constitution section 134,it is divided into A and B
A) a candidate must score the highest votes
B) he must get two third in 36 states and fct.

A simple understanding of the constitution or the interpretation act will reveal that two conditions are needed that is A and B.if fct was to be mandatory,subsection c would have been added or under subsection B,they would have added an additional clause or condition with a comma.in atiku's petition,he funnily added fct as the C part.I believe this should settle that matter...


Cc mynd44
Lalasticlala
Nplfmod
Seun
Obinoscopy
Socialmediaman
Buhariguy
Efewestern
Aiel123
Vicdom
Penguin2
Mrvitalis
Donphilopus
Okoroawusa
Ejimatic
Muykem
Afamed
Indispensable
Yarimo
Benuejosh
Kyase
Cajal

We have gone past this stage

The case is in court, hire a lawyer to go and slug it out at the courts

stop this online nonsense analysis

The United Kingdom Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of British multinational oil and gas company, Shell, over a 2011 offshore oil spill.

The apex court ruled that it was too late for Nigerian claimants to sue Shell subsidiaries over a 2011 offshore oil spill.

The case was one of a series of legal battles Shell has been fighting in London courts against residents of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta, a region blighted by pollution, conflict and corruption related to the oil and gas industry, Reuters report.

In December 2011, there were allegations that an estimated 40,000 barrels of crude oil leaked when a tanker was loaded at Shell’s Bonga oilfield, 120km off the coast of Nigeria’s Niger Delta.


Shell disputed the allegations and said the Bonga spill was dispersed offshore and did not have adverse effects on the shoreline, according to Reuters.

A group of 27,800 individuals and 457 communities have made several attempts to drag Shell to court, arguing that the resulting oil slick polluted their lands and waterways, destroying farming, fishing, drinking water, mangrove forests and religious shrines.

But a panel of five Supreme Court justices unanimously upheld rulings by two lower courts that found they had brought their case after the expiry of a six-year legal deadline for taking action.



The claimants’ lawyers had argued that the ongoing consequences of the pollution represented a “continuing nuisance”, a type of civil tort, which would have meant the deadline did not apply.

“The Supreme Court rejects the claimants’ submission. There was no continuing nuisance in this case,” Justice Andrew Burrows said during the ruling.

While it was two Nigerians that were appellants in the Supreme Court case, the verdict would be applicable to the thousands of other claimants, the report added.

Shell said the Supreme Court ruling had brought to an end all legal claims in English courts related to the spill.

“While the 2011 Bonga spill was highly regrettable, it was swiftly contained and cleaned up offshore,” a Shell spokesperson said.

A lawyer for the Nigerian appellants did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

https://punchng.com/shell-wins-niger-delta-oil-spill-case/?amp

Parachoko:
Akpabio is the next Senate President

Accept this Reality and give yourself Peace Of Mind

I think you should put it properly that Tinubu prefers Akpabio

The 10th senate will surely choose their leaders

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is walking on a tightrope in the House of Representatives as lawmakers plot to truncate the zoning arrangement proposed by President-elect Bola Tinubu and adopted by the party’s leadership.

In a shock move, the National Working Committee on Monday adopted Tajudeen Abbas, a member of the House from Kaduna State, as a consensus candidate, while Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State was picked as deputy speaker.

Later in the evening, in a surprise move, all the major aspirants— Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Ado Doguwa, Yusuf Gagdi, Sada Soli, Ahmed Jaji and Miriam Onuoha appeared at the declaration of Muktar Betara and openly rejected Abbas as the consensus candidate.


“We will defeat those forces that think Nigeria is in their pocket,” Deputy Speaker Wase said while addressing the crowd. He also disclosed that five of the aspirants already joined forces against the establishment.

Some other aspirants like Soli, Doguwa and Jaji also spoke, while expressing readiness to challenge and defeat the anointed candidate.

“APC does not have the number to tell lawmakers to go to hell. The entire majority is small, compared to the last assembly when APC had over 200,” a lawmaker in the camp of one of the aspirants said during a meeting on Sunday.

DAILY POST check of the list of member-elect shows that the ruling party indeed has a lesser number compared to the aggregation of all minority parties. The APC has 177, while the opposition parties have 181.

The current situation bears similarities with the 8th Assembly where Yakubu Dogara and Yusuf Lasun teamed up with the opposition in 2015, and won against the anointed candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Monguno.

This paper learnt that the majority of the lawmakers from the Northeast are backing Betara, while Abdulmummin Jibrin has been mobilizing opposition lawmakers, including members of the NNPP, Labour Party and PDP.

The minority group seems divided between Abbas’ team and Betara. The caucus formed by some lawmakers loyal to Gbajabiamila have been campaigning for Abbas, while Betara controls the “greater majority” group.

There are indications that some of the aspirants may drop when negotiation commences.

The APC NWC had warned Mr Tinubu to ensure that they increase consultation.

“The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide,” it reads.

Opposition joins race

While the ruling party grapples with an internal crisis, the opposition party are plotting to take the seat.

Dachung Bagos, one of the spokespersons for the opposition parties, said the minority group has concluded plans to have one of its own to become the Speaker.

“We have already agreed to contest for the presiding offices,” he said.

The parties may struggle to get the entire minority lawmakers to unite, as several of them are already playing leading roles in the campaign of APC members.

https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/09/speakership-battle-apc-reps-reject-tinubus-zoning-plot-upset/

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has adjourned the pre-hearing of the petitions by Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi to Wednesday to enable parties agree on issues for determination.

Justice Haruna Tsammani had on Monday directed lawyers in the matter to examine the documents they wish to object or agree with and file all the issues for pre-hearing determination.



Earlier, the counsel to Obi and LP, Levi Uzoukwu (SAN) said he has filed answers to the questions raised on the direction of the proceedings.

Similarly, lawyers to APC, Tinubu, and INEC, Lateef Fagbemi, Wole Olanipekun, A.B. Mahmoud, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, informed the tribunal that they have responded to the questions raised on the pre-hearing proceedings.

https://dailytrust.com/why-tribunal-adjourned-obi-lps-petitions/