₦airaland Forum

EYIN KO LOKAN O. Nigerians lokan.

Jimi Agbaje - PDP
July 13, 2022.

#2023NigeriaElections
#2023presidency
#2023

Northeast zonal treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Galadima Abba Itas has resigned from office just as he defected from the party, effective Tuesday, 12th July.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Air Vice Marshal Frank Ajobena (retd.), has quit the party in protest against the decision of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The retired Air Force chief, who is also a national caucus member of the APC described the Muslim-Muslim ticket as “the highest level of insensitivity to the Christian faith in the country.”

This was contained in a statement issued by the APC chieftain, copies of which he made available to journalists in Warri on Monday.

The PUNCH reported that Tinubu had picked former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

AVM Ajobena, who was the first Military Administrator of Abia State, noted further that it was inhumane for such a decision to be taken by Tinubu, whom he said, he respected so much

The statement read partly, “Tinubu is not my enemy, I am not against him. But let’s call a spade a spade. It is not my character to be a double agent, I am not pretending; even though I like the APC, the right thing should be done.

“The decision could be described as one that portrays arrogance and total disrespect to us, Christians, in the APC.

“The latest development portrays us as a people who can easily be bought over with money. Such an action is a minus to our democratic system. In what capacity will I be serving in his campaign train? As a slave?

“A man must stand for something, else will fall for anything, hence, I am quitting”.

12/07/2022

A 54 years old man, Dauda Bello was on the 7th of July 2022 arrested by operatives of Ogun state police command for killing of one Mrs Mesesi Adisa, a 71 years old woman after which he cut off the victim's wrists and ankles.

The suspect was arrested following the sudden disappearance of the victim, who left home since on the 8th of June 2022 and didn't return home.

The relation of the victim then reported a case of missing person at Sabo/Ilupeju police station.

The case was later transfered to anti kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation department where technical and intelligence based investigation was embarked upon.

In the course of investigation, the SP Taiwo Opadiran led team traced the last place visited by the victim to be the house of the suspect at Olodo area of Imala. The suspect was subsequently arrested and taken to custody for investigation.

On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have known the victim for quite some time now, and that they were both into the business of children trafficking. He stated further that he invited the victim on that fateful day to discuss their usual business, but on getting to his house, he discovered that the victim came with what he thought was a huge amount of money.

This made him to hit the woman on the head with a heavy wooden stick, which made the woman to be unconscious after which he carried the unconscious body of the victim to the bush where he finally sniffed life out of her.

He confessed further that when he searched the woman's body, he discovered that the victim only had the sum of#22,200 (twenty two thousand, two hundred naira) with her which he took with disappointment.

Having realized that his aim of getting much money from the victim was in vain, he decided to cut off her two wrists and ankles, which he claimed to have been sold to somebody who is now at large.

The suspect had taken the Police to the bush where he buried the victim in a shallow grave, and the dismembered body had been recovered and deposited in the mortuary.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, who commended the team for a thorough job has ordered that the case be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded. He also directed that anybody who is directly or indirectly involved in the case should be brought to book.

DSP ABIMBOLA OYEYEMI,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
OGUN STATE POLICE COMMAND.

Lagos State Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor, has finally concluded plan to officially announce and present on Tuesday, the Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, as running mate for the coming 2023 election.

Recall, Vanguard Media had earlier reported that in line with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s guidelines on elections, Lagos State chapter of PDP, had commenced process for the selection of running mate to Jandor.

Akindele, from Ikorodu division was said to be on top of the list which comprises of other four names as potential running mate of the party’s governorship candidate, Jandor.

Two of the shortlisted candidates – Rhodes-Vivour and Kolawole – are from Lagos West, the same senatorial district with Jandor, hence, negatively affecting reducing their chances

Also, a picture of Jandor and Akindele had surfaced and gone viral purported to have chosen Akindele as the running mate

Media reports had claimed that four major reasons were responsible for choosing Akindele as running mate for the coveted position.

“The reasons are she is from Ikorodu and Lagos East Senatorial District like the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hsmzat.

“She is also from the royal family in the town,” a source said.

According to sources within Jandor campaign team, who preferred anonymity, Akindele will be unveiled as running mate in Ikorodu on Tuesday, all things being equal.

The event, which is coming up at the residence of the Apex leader of Lagos4Lagos Movement, late Mrs Adenrele Ogunsanya, Ikorodu, is scheduled for11 am.

Akindele, popularly called, “Jenifer” emergence as running mate to Jandor, however, will put to rest weeks of speculations.

Meanwhile, an official statement made available to Vanguard by Head, Media and Communications, Jandor ’23 Campaign Organization, Gbenga Ogunleye, stated that Jandor will unveil his running mate as well as “RESCUE Lagos Agenda.”

The statement read in part, “The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR) will officially announce his running mate and Deputy Governorship Candidate of the party tomorrow Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

“Venue Pa Ogunsanya Country Home,
Fuwagboye Courts (by Technical College Grammar School), Ikorodu, Lagos.Time is 11am.”

The ongoing legal battle over certificate forgery involving Akan Okon; the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno and the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court, Uyo, has taken an interesting turn, documents exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters have revealed.

Okon, a contestant in the May 25 governorship primary of the PDP in Akwa Ibom is dragging Eno, the winner of the said election to court on the allegations that he is using a forged West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination result in his bid to become the governor of the state.

According to an original copy of a letter exclusively obtained by our SaharaReporters, the examination body, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) confirmed that Umo Eno's certificate does not exist in its records.

In the letter dated 8th April 2022 and signed by T. A. Ademola, WAEC Exams and Records, while responding to a request for confirmation of Eno's 1983 results, the examination body stated that it could not certify the certificate because it did not issue it.

“This is to notify you that the certificate No. PO 275878 A for candidate No. 15725119 of December 1983 submitted for certification by you does not exist in our records hence we cannot certifywhat we did not issue,” the letter read.

Responding to Okon's earlier statement of claim to the Federal High Court, Eno in his statement of defence denied all the allegations.

His written defence was accompanied by a copy of ‘Confirmation of Result’.

The documents filed by Pastor Eno are ‘Confirmation of Result’ for his 1981 and 1983 certificates which were addressed to the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State.

However, Okon, through his lawyers, has opened more loopholes in Eno's statement of defence by highlighting more discrepancies in the confirmation of the results.

According to Okon's reply, while the 1983 confirmation of results has Eno Umo Bassey as the candidate’s name, the 1981 version has Bassey Umo Eno as the candidate’s name, adding that WAEC does not have Umo Eno as the holder of May/June 1981 GCE O/L but the name of Bassey Umo Eno.

“Having supplied the name of the candidate that wrote the examination in 1981, the examining body indicated in the last paragraph of her letter thus: ‘You will have to satisfy yourself that he/she and Bassey Umo Eno of our record, are one and the same person,’” Okon noted.

Okon further noted that there is a disparity in the name of the school. He stated that while the certificate carries Victory High School, Ikeja as the examination centre, the Confirmation of Result bears Victory High School ‘1’, Ikeja.

Another disparity highlighted was in the subjects. In the 1981 Certificate, “Religious Knowledge” is recorded as one of the four subjects, while “Bible Knowledge” is one of the six subjects in the Confirmation of Result.

In the 1981 certificate, the candidate number 15520232 has no punctuation mark inserted in between the digits, and the 1981 confirmation of result has 15520/232 as the candidate number with a slash (/).

Just like in the case of the 1981 certificate and confirmation of results, the main certificate of the 1983 WAEC has 15725119 (without punctuation sign) as candidate number while his confirmation of result for the same year has candidate number (15725/119) with a slash.

“The implication flowing from the discrepancies in the certificates presented by the 2nd Defendant to the 1st Defendant for his screening shows him as having names namely; Bassey Umo Eno - 1981 WAEC result; Eno Umo Bassey - 1983 WAEC result; Umo Bassey Eno - name used on his application to the 1st Defendant,” Okon added.

Okon's reply further stated, “As the policy of West African Examination Council, internal candidates writing the examination for the first time or even thereafter have to enter a minimum of eight ( subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. The Confirmation of Result issued by the Examining Body show that Bassey Umo Eno entered for six (6) subjects, excluding English Language, a compulsory subject.

“The certificate relied upon by 2nd Defendant, apart from not bearing his name has other striking distinctions from the letter of confirmation of result issued by the examining body and so the certificate presented at the screening of the 1st Defendant was not and can never have been his certificate”.

It can be recalled that in his statement of claim, Okon had alleged that Eno's name does not exist in INEC's database as a registered voter because his voter card was forged.

In addition, a photocopy of Eno's voter card submitted to the PDP screening committee bears 01-01-1964 as his date of birth but his curriculum vitae and credentials bear 24th April, 1964.

Okon, in his reply to Eno's defence, further emphasised that he does not have an authentic voter card.

“In answer to paragraph 11 of the statement of defence of the 2nd Defendant, the Plaintiff shall at the trial of this case rely on the certified true copy of the voter's register of Unit 06 Ward 02, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State in addition to the relevant sections of his pleadings in paragraph 7 of the statement of claim to show that the 2nd Defendant does not have any authentic voter's card.

“The Plaintiff, therefore, pleads that having forged his certificates and the school he purportedly attended, the 2nd Defendant ought to have been disqualified from participating in the primaries and that having taken part in the said primaries, his votes ought to be declared void votes and the Plaintiff having scored the highest valid votes ought to declared and presented as the candidate of the 1st Defendant to fly the flag of 1st Defendant in the 2023 Governorship election.”

The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is currently in a private meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Governor Aminu Masari is also at the closed-door meeting, which is holding at the Daura private residence of the President.

The APC presidential candidate, along with Governor Masari, drove in to the President’s residence few minutes after 2pm.

Tinubu had earlier arrived the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina at 1:15pm on Sunday from where he joined Governor Masari for about an hour drive to Daura.

Meeting still in session as of 2:50pm when this report was filed.

#pressrelease #DHQUpdate

RE: UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA BY MR FEMI FANI-KAYODE IN A VIRAL VIDEO IN CIRCULATION

The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a video produced by Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, wherein he made wild and unsubstantiated allegations against the Armed Forces of Nigeria, regarding the recent spate of terrorist attacks particularly, the attack of the prison in Kuje - Abuja on 5 July 2022.

Ordinarily the video and its maker would have been ignored, considering the antecedents of the person behind it as a known Rabble-Rouser. However, in the interest of members of the public who might be misled by the deliberate falsehood and the sensibilities of service personnel and their families who have been paying dearly to keep Nigerians safe, it has become urgent to respond to the video currently circulating in the social media.

Among other allegations, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode claimed that the Department of State Security (DSS) informed the military about the impending attack on Kuje Custodial Centre and even the previous attack on the Kaduna - Abuja rail service. He also claimed that soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the prison attack. In all these allegations, Mr Kayode is merely playing to the gallery. He is not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack or not. It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all Government Agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.

The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable. It is sad that Mr Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it to guard prison.

Mr Femi Kayode further claimed that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, which resulted in the unfortunate death of some soldiers, some policemen and members of the public. This is also an attempt to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command. A despicable statement that dishonours the sacrifices of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price whilst responding in defence of the civilians and the mining community. What a shame! Mr Kayode is encouraged to pay more attention to the weekly briefs by Defence Media Operations. Defence Media Operations gives weekly briefs/updates on operations being conducted across the country; press releases on military operations are also made when the need arises.

Mr Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. In all, subordination to civil authority, is key. It is pertinent to state that, the Nigerian Armed Forces has toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup de tat, as alluded to by Mr Kayode in his video. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor has always stressed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Nigerian Constitution. Accordingly, as the 2023 General Elections approach, desperate persons must depart from their evil ways, for never again would they lure the military into their wicked machinations. If a confession must be made, Nigerians must know now: the military is always the worse victim of military rule.

Finally, in a miserable attempt to malign the leadership of the military, Mr Kayode gave the impression that, while junior military commanders and non-commissioned officers are working hard, senior commanders are doing nothing. This is sheer ignorance and nothing more. Mr Kayode is completely oblivious of the fact that in the military, orders, instructions and directives are issued from the hierarchy to the lower rungs of command. Therefore, junior commanders cannot be working hard while their superiors are idle.

This is indeed a difficult time for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole. It is not time for attention-seeking individuals to cause needless distractions. Members of the public are therefore urged to ignore Mr Femi Fani-Kayode and continue to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies.

JIMMY AKPOR
Major General
Director Defence Information
09 July 2022

PRESS RELEASE
INEC Clarifies Issues On Candidate Nomination, Release Of Certified True Copies of Documents

Dr Victor Olunloyo not Dead , in Critical Condition
- Family

"We appreciate the public for the interest shown in the wellbeing of our father, Chief Dr. Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo (aka VOSO).

In the tradition of the Olunloyo family of Ibadanland, and based on the principles of integrity, inclusion, and openness upon which our revered father VOSO has always stood, we would like to inform the Nigerian public that we would greatly appreciate your prayers for our father who is presently in the ICU at UCH Ibadan.

As a public figure, we believe that his condition should not be hidden from the Nigerian public who have a right to know about their leaders.

Please accept our most sincere thanks for your all concern and goodwill.

“May God Almighty bless you all and our dear country Nigeria.”

Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje on Friday said presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has agreed to pick a Muslim vice-presidential candidate.

He made the comment during a gathering of about 100 clerics at the Kano state government house as part of activities to mark Eid El Kabir.

“We have advised him to pick a Muslim deputy and he has agreed,” Mr Ganduje said.

“A Muslim-Muslim ticket is a reality. It is not something new in Nigeria.”

Mr Ganduje asked the clerics to pray for Tinubu to emerge as Nigeria’s president come 2023.

He also urged them to offer prayers for his administration’s peace and progress.

Mr Ganduje asked the clerics to pray for his Deputy Governor, Yusuf Gawuna, who emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Kano State for 2023 elections.

Obi at Maiduguri for episcopal ordination

From R - L : The Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev Antonio Guido Filipazzi; His Eminence Cardinal Peter Okpaleke; Newly Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. John Bogna Bakeni; Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, His Grace Ignatius Ayau Kaigama and other bishops, at the Episcopal Ordination of the new auxiliary bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, today, July 7, 2022, in Maiduguri.

Court Sacks Oborevwori as Delta PDP Guber Candidate as Edevbie wins in High Court.

The Federal High Court Abuja, has sacked Sheriff Francis Oborevwori as governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State.

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly was sacked by the court owing to discrepancies in his certificate.

Presiding judge, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo ruled that the plaintiff, David Edevbie proved beyond reasonable doubt that Oborevwori was unqualified by virtue of the discrepancies in his documents.

Recalls that Sheriff Oborevwori was declared winner of the PDP governorship primary in Delta State, scoring 590 votes ahead of David Edevbie, who polled 113 votes.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Delta State gubernatorial candidate of the PDP has been disqualified by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has disqualified Sheriff Oborevwori, the candidate of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 governorship election.

According to reports, Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the ruling which disqualified Oberevwori over discrepancies in his certificates.

The court also restrained Oborevwori who is the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and anointed candidate of the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP.

The court order followed a suit instituted by David Edevbie, a former commissioner for finance, who is the anointed candidate of former governor James Ibori.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was born on Nov. 25 , 1946 to Garba Abubakar and Aisha Kande in Jada village of Adamawa. His only sister died at a young age and that made him the only child of his parents. At a young age, Abubakar lost his father to an accident at a neighboring village in 1957.

At the time, Abubakar’s father did not believe in modern education, so he stopped his son from attending the compulsory traditional school. However, when the government discovered Garba Abubakar’s action, he was jailed for few days before his mother-in-law was able to pay for his bail. Afterwards, Abubakar started his primary education at Jada Primary School, Adamawa at the age of eight.

Thereafter, in 1960, he proceeded to Adamawa provincial secondary school for his secondary education. He graduated in 1965 and enrolled in Nigerian Police College, Kaduna. Shortly after, he left the college to take on the position of tax official at Regional Ministry of Finance. Also, in 1966, he gained admission into the school of Hygiene, Kano and graduated with a diploma in 1967.

In the same year, Abubakar proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University on scholarship. There, he graduated with a diploma in law in 1969 and immediately got employed with Nigeria Customs Service.

In 1989, Abubakar was selected to represent his constituency at the constituent assembly, set up to form a new constitution for Nigeria.

In September 1990, Abubakar joined the governorship race for the former Gongola state. However, in 1991 before the election could hold, the Federal Government divided Gongola into two – Adamawa and Taraba. Abubakar fell into Adamawa.

Although, he won the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries in November 1991 but was disqualified from contesting in the election.

In 1998, he contested as the governor of Adamawa on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform and won. However, before his swearing-in, he accepted to be the running mate of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Abubakar was thereafter sworn in as the Vice-President of Nigeria on May 29, 1999.

Since his joining politics, Abubakar has unsuccessfully contested five times for the office of President of Nigeria. He did that in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

In 1993, he contested the (SDP) presidential primaries losing to late Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. He was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) in the 2007 presidential election coming in third to late Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP. He contested the presidential primaries of the PDP during the 2011 presidential election losing out to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In 2014, he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 presidential election and contested the presidential primaries losing to Muhammadu Buhari. In 2017, he returned to the PDP and was the presidential candidate for the 2019 election, which he lost to Buhari.

On May 27, Abubakar won the PDP presidential ticket for 2023 general elections, after polling 371 out of the 767 accredited votes to defeat his closest rival, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers who polled 237 votes.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes. While former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi got 20 votes, while Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom scored 38 votes.

Dele Momodu and Ayo Fayose, Charles Ugwu, and Chikwendu Kalu scored zero votes each, while Tarella Diana and Sam Ohuabunwa each received one vote each.

Abubakar is married to four wives and is blessed with 28 children.