₦airaland Forum

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a bid by a factional group in the Action Alliance (AA) party to stop the certificate forgery suit instituted against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The bid by the group loyal to Tinubu and led by Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje was rejected by the Federal High Court from being joined as an interested party to defend Tinubu in the certificate forgery suit brought against him by the AA party.

What the court said: Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that Omo-Aje did not establish his claim as National Chairman of the AA and also did not disclose how his interest would be jeopardized if not joined as a defendant in the suit.

Justice Egwuatu while dismissing the joinder request held that the group remains a meddlesome interloper and busybody until their interests likely to be affected are clearly established.

In the ruling, Justice Egwuatu said both Omo-Aje and Ambassador Suleiman Abdumalik, who filed the joinder application on behalf of their faction failed to satisfy the conditions on why they should be joined.

Besides, the Judge held that they also failed to make a case in any form, to sway the court to join them.

What you should know: The Judge thereafter ordered the plaintiff (AA) to open its case of certificate forgery allegations against Tinubu on Friday, November 4, 2022.

What happened: The factional group had in the joinder application sought for dismissal of the suit against APC and Tinubu on the ground that they (as officers of the party) did not authorize the suit to be filed in the name or on behalf of the party.

Action Alliance Party in the suit is seeking the disqualification of Tinubu from the 2023 election on alleged certificate Forgery.

The party had on June 21, asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from including the name of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ballot of the 2023 presidential election.

The suit, dated and filed on June 21, has the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Bola Tinubu as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Ahead of 2023 polls, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has received the blessing of the Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Tinubu received the blessing on Sunday at the country home of Pa Fasoranti.

The blessing was coming weeks after the acting leader of the group, Ayo Adebanjo, had endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The APC standard bearer had arrived in the state to present his Action Plan on how to reposition the country to the Yoruba cultural and political organisation.

The 80-page Action Plan document christened Renewed Hope, was formally launched in Abuja on 21 October by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Barring a miracle, the Labour Party (LP) and over 500 hundred support groups that make up the “Obidient Movement,” may soon part ways, leaving the party in pains and Peter Obi’s presidential candidacy in jeopardy.

Investigation shows that funding and the composition of the Presidential Campaign Council (PPC) of the Labour Party are the major factors causing trouble. Complaints about the form of the PPC is still causing ripples since it was first constituted on October 12, 2022 and later rejigged and inaugurated last week, following complaints by aggrieved groups who felt left out.

Many leaders of the Obi/Datti support groups that travelled to Abuja for the inauguration of the PPC on Friday felt let down and exploited after they were told by the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, to ”go and source funds”

The Convener of some of the big groups with presence in many states and local government areas in the South confided in THEWILL on condition of anonymity that the National Chairman’s response to their request for financial support had angered them.

He said, “Many of us have been spending money on this cause through contributions. We asked LP for funding support and we are being told to go and source funds. I paid my way to Abuja, paid for my accommodation and fed myself in a hotel and the party cannot offer any form of support to us for electioneering?”

Abure, during the inauguration of the PPC on Friday, urged members to go look for funds for the campaign because the presidential candidate does not have the funds to run the campaign alone.

“The presidential candidate of the party cannot fund the presidential contest alone. Therefore, all of us here have the responsibility to solicit for funds to fund the campaign,” Abure said after the installation of the PPC on Friday in Abuja.

On the composition of the PCC, other leaders who spoke to THEWILL pointed out many members are not stakeholders. Many who have been on the field to popularize the movement and LP indirectly, they said, have been excluded.

If things are left unattended to in the coming days, conveners of the aggrieved groups, who were still holding meetings on Friday night through Saturday morning, have threatened to pull out of the coalition with the LP and look for other candidates to support in the upcoming general election.

As a way out of this development, they are insisting on speaking directly with Obi before deciding on the next step.

Asked for his reaction, LP spokesperson, Abayomi Arabambi , simply said, “There is no problem.” Pressed further, he added, “ Nothing of the nature you are asking has been brought to my attention. In any case, people have the right to ventilate their complaints. But trust Nigerians, people will still complain, even when problems have been solved. But take it from me when I tell you that all is well.”

Presidential Spokesperson, Tanko Yinusa , could not be reached for his reaction and a member of the PPC, Kenny Adewole said he was not qualified to speak on the issue, when contacted.

As at press time, the Deputy Director-General of Campaign, South, Chief Anagbe Kentebe, is said to have prevailed on the feuding groups to calm down and allow party leaders to look into their complaints.

British Airways has cancelled its flight which was expected to arrive in Abuja in the early hours of Saturday, finding by our correspondent has revealed.

The development comes after a BA83 flight from London-Heathrow to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, was suddenly diverted to Lagos.

Passengers affected by the cancellation and diversion lamented that there was no adequate notice.

Though BA did not provide any reason for the decision, the diversion of the flight might not be unconnected with the terror alert in Abuja, with several foreign missions issuing travel warnings to their citizens.

Despite allaying of fears by the federal government, foreigners have been reportedly leaving the country in droves, while a major mall in Nigeria’s capital shut down on Thursday.

Daily Trust learnt that after BA brought Abuja-bound passengers to Lagos on Thursday, the passengers, mostly Nigerians, refused to disembark, and insisted on the flight terminating in Abuja.

One of the passengers who wrote in a WhatsApp group said, “When they refused and insisted on the flight terminating in Abuja as contracted, the crew threatened to launch tear gas at the mostly Nigerian passengers right in the plane!

“They had been telling people on board since they boarded last night, Abuja. Why must you go to that place! After an uproarious session and an hour on ground, the plane finally took off and arrived in Abuja around 11am.

“There is a lot of mischief afoot on this terror attack warning and it smells like we need to talk less and pull out antennae to their highest gain heights. This is not just a terror warning; there is more schemes and actions of enemies within and without.”

But findings by our correspondent showed that the Abuja-bound flight which was supposed to depart London by 10 p.m and arrive by 4:40 a.m on Saturday has been cancelled.

This was also shown on the flight radar, which indicated that the Abuja-bound flights for Friday and Saturday had been cancelled.

But the return flight from Abuja to London departed normally, it was learnt.

There was no official statement from the British Airways at the time of filing this report.

The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, inaugurated a 533-man Presidential Campaign Council for the presidential election.

The council members included a former Ambassador to the Central African Republic, Roland Omowa, a former National Vice Chairman of the PDP ( South-West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, a former chairman of the party in the state, Dr Tayo Dairo, a former governorship candidate of the party, Mr Eyitayo Jegede among others. Omowa was appointed as the chairman of the council.

Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, the state Chairman of the party, Mr Fatai Adams, informed members of the party that the selection of the principal officers of the campaign council was in line with the order of the PDP National Executive Council.

“Besides the three principal officers of the campaign council, another 530 persons were also selected and inaugurated cutting across all the wards in the state,” the chairman explained.

Addressing the 530 members of the campaign council, Dr. Olafeso, who is a Director-General of the campaign council, stated that the party adopted the measure “to rescue Nigerians today.”

“It is a must-win election because of the state of this nation. Atiku has dedicated his life to making life easy for Nigerians. It’s our duty to convince the people, to see a better future for Nigeria rather than for ourselves.

“They’ve stolen all our patrimony. Our dignity was eroded. Our women were taken to the jungle and raped. This is an opportunity to build a better Nigeria. It’s only good governance led by Atiku that can bring back the kind of government we want,” he said.

Jegede, in his address, expressed confidence that PDP would repeat the 2019 feat in the state when the party won the presidential election in the state.

He said, “We are going to do better than what we did in 2019. This is a winning team. We are all generals in this war. Let us go and work as one. The suffering is too much in the land. By the grace of God, we shall send them away. If you vote for Atiku, he will need the support of those in the National Assembly. So let’s vote for all candidates of PDP.”

The chairman of the campaign council, Omowa enjoined all members of the party to support the campaign council for success in the forthcoming general elections.

Since the United States Embassy made public intelligence of an attempted terror attack in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it appeared that they had beaten the Department of State Services (DSS) to their job, but top sources in the agency alleged that they have been in the know of the information.

The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity alleged that the information had earlier been passed across security stakeholders but no express order was issued.

The personnel’s claim is against the backdrop of the arrest of suspected terrorists residing at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe area of the FCT, where explosives and other weapons were recovered from an apartment.

“It was the intelligence by the US Embassy that prompted the raid at the Trademore Estate but the DSS had the information. They were together with operatives from the US Embassy and raided a particular apartment that the guys rented.

“They discovered explosives and pistols from the apartment because they have been on the trail for those guys for a while. So, the DSS hold back a lot from the public even when having solid intelligence because when you send up (authorities), it will not be acted upon because they need express order from the presidency.

“The men on the field will risk their lives to provide this information, only for little or no implementation. So, the information of the terror alert was on the ground and the stakeholders (identities withdrawn) were copied, yet actions were not taken. They didn’t alert the public which is why the US decided to make it public.”

THE WHISTLER had earlier reported about the raid by the DSS at the Trademore Estate on Monday. The raid came barely 24 hours after the US raised an alarm of a terror attack in the FCT, advising its residents to stay safe and report any suspicious movement around them to the security authorities.

The United Kingdom Embassy and Canadian and Australian Governments followed suit advising its citizens in Nigeria to avoid non-essential travels to the nation’s capital city.

This had made the US Government authorize the relocation of its employees and their families from Abuja on Wednesday over potential terrorist attacks, but the Federal Government while reacting to the US intelligence said it has taken firm control of the situation.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while fielding questions from the State House correspondents had said, “Now, of course, this so-called travel advisory as far as we’re concerned, as a government we have in the last few months, taken a firm handle of security.

“What I said is that click-baiting, which is, you find a story which is not verified and you immediately share it, always causes panic.

“But I want to reassure both citizens, non-Nigerians, Nigerians living in this country, that security agencies are on top of this matter.

“Of course, the terrorists would not stop to try to embarrass or intimidate the government but what I’m saying is that this country is safe. And there’s no cause for alarm. No cause to panic”.

Bandits killed Alh Muhd Abdu, d village Head of Sabon Gida in Magami District of Gusau LGA of Zamfara

The terrorists entered d town wen d residents were performing d morning prayers, killed 2 including d village head &injured 4. The residents also killed 4 bandits &injured odas

Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has sympathised with his Bayelsa counterpart, Douye Diri, over the flood situation in his state, describing it as “extremely pathetic”.

Mr Emmanuel, who led a delegation of members of his cabinet to Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, said it was his cabinet’s decision to visit Bayelsa based on the magnitude of the flood that hit the state.

He applauded the relentless efforts of Governor Diri in standing by his people in their moment of despair, describing his gesture as a mark of true leadership.

“With what I saw on television, l just could not stay. I did not know the extent of the damage the flood had caused the people of the state. My people played the whole video clip in our Executive Council Chambers and we were moved to tears. We decided at the meeting to be here to sympathise with you and your people.”

Mr Emmanuel said whatever affects Bayelsa also impacts on the people of his state since they share a common affinity in the Niger Delta.

“The destinies of millions of our people are tied to your own. You have tried to show that you care and restore hope. That show of care strengthens your people in spite of the dire situation the flood had put them in.”

The Akwa Ibom governor, who presented a cheque of N100 million to Diri, also announced that a truckload of relief materials courtesy of his wife’s Family Empowerment Programme Foundation was on its way to support flood victims in the state.

Responding, Governor Diri expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel for his show of love and brotherhood, describing the impact of the flood as immeasurable.

He said the only means of communication was by air and through the maritime domain as the roads into the state have been cut off as well as power supply with electricity transformers submerged in water.

According to the state’s helmsman, the level of destruction is unimaginable as 99% of people of the state were displaced safely to communities close to the Atlantic Ocean because of the salinity of the water.

“We see you not only as a friend but also as a brother. It is a trying time for us. This is the time we need leaders, not politicians. And you have proved to be a true leader. The cheque of N100 million will be judiciously used and accounted for. You have done what a brother should do.”

In a related development, Governor Diri has said the state was yet to receive any relief item from the Federal Government.

The Governor explained that although the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management said the Federal Government had sent relief items to 21 states affected by flooding, Bayelsa was yet to receive such items.

He thanked the Nigeria Air Force on behalf of the state for assisting the relief effort by airlifting food items that were procured by the state government.

STOP MISLEADING RIVERS PEOPLE: PDP PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SPOKESMAN TELLS GOVERNOR WIKE.

The PDP Presidential Campaign SPOKESMAN for RIVERS State Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa has advised the RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to stop misleading the good people of the state by deliberate misinformation.

This he said while reacting to statements made by the governor during the inauguration of the state gubernatorial campaign council. Dr Nwibubasa said it wasn't correct for governor Wike to claim that the PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar did not reach out to him to send nominees from the state to the Presidential Campaign Council of the party.

Rather it's the Gov that denied RIVERS PEOPLE more representation in the campaign council by refusing to send in nominees. Again RIVERS People will not be deceived or hoodwinked to support any other Presidential candidate apart from Atiku Abubakar on the basis of Governor Wike's twisted 'state interest'.

It is in public domain that no other Presidential candidate has the interest of Rivers State at heart like Atiku Abubakar. Atiku's businesses in the state has provided more jobs in Rivers State and trained over seven hundred thousand people in Rivers State in various skills and craft.

His investments has created wealth and boost the economy of the state. He is a friend of Rivers People, that's the reason despite Gov Wike's antagonism he still appointed many very credible Rivers sons into his Presidential Campaign council.

It is a great surprise and also of grave concern that Gov Wike openly declared our leaders, fathers and kinsmen 'enemies of the state' for their decision to support our Party's Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Rivers People must recall that few months ago, the same 'enemies of the state' traversed the length and breath of this country risking their lives on land and in the air to help Gov Wike in his ill-fated Presidential bid.

They gave their best. If their best could not push Gov Wike through, should they also join Gov Wike to destroy the party that made them, With Gov Wike being the highest beneficiary?

Also remember, that though Barr Wike was not the most qualified to be governor of Rivers State in 2015, more so for reasons bothering on equity and fairness, Gov. Amaechi having done two terms from the same Ikwerre ethnic group, these men who are now named enemies of the state for the love of PDP, for party cohesion and unity supported Barr Wike in no small measure to be governor of Rivers State.

Who has stolen the memories of my dear governor. Who has bewitched you to attempt to destroy womb from which you were made. My dear governor, in the words of Dame Patience Jonathan " there is God oo".

My dear brother and sister from Rivers State, do not allow anyone push you against your brothers for any reason. Who you vote for is your personal choice born of your personal conviction. We will continue to support Atiku Abubakar because of the verifiable evidence of his productive passion for the development of our dear state. Atiku is set to do more for Rivers State and our dear country.

Join us, Rivers State will not be left behind. Atiku is coming!.

Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa
PDP Presidential Campaign SPOKESMAN Rivers State.

fergie001:
Like shouting ulterior motive without reasons.

I don't have that. You are correct

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has written off the chances of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the 2023 general elections.

Obaseki spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s Campaign Council in the state.

The governor said Obi’s supporters popularly known as “Obidients” will soon run out of steam.

He also said no right-thinking person will vote in the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, adding that Nigeria will break if APC wins the 2023 presidential election.

Following the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council in Abuja on Friday, some Christians in the ruling party have called for a total boycott

The Christians from the North reiterated their rejection of the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Addressing the press in Abuja on Sunday, the Concerned Northern APC Christians Forum maintained that the APC’s insistence on Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Borno State Governor Kassim Shettima is a slap on the face of the Christian faith.

The General Secretary of the group, Lukas Bako, who addressed the press, said the inauguration of the campaign council is a mere charade.

The group said there was no chance of the APC winning the presidency, describing it as a failed mission.

The group noted that if allowed to emerge as President, Christians in the country would suffer untold persecution.

According to them, Christians in the North stand with one voice in opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket and join their voice with that of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.

They maintained that any Christian who accepts to work with the APC Presidential Campaign Council should be seen as a betrayer who has sold his conscience in return for a plate of porridge.

The group, therefore, urged the APC leadership to “do needful by replacing the APC vice Presidential Candidate with a Christian before the commencement of the campaigns”.

They, however, advised Christians in the APC council to resign honourably in protest until the needful is done.

The APC Christian group wonders why the ruling party would not come to terms with the reality that Christians in the North are notable stakeholders in the party and contributes to its growth and development.

The Christian group lamented that despite the public outcry and resistance from various groups, the party had treated the Muslim-Muslim ticket with kids’ gloves and, by so doing, grossly disregarded the religious configuration of the country.

“The Northern APC Christians Forum is concerned that the APC leadership’s lack of respect for the Christians in Northern Nigeria has reached an alarming crescendo, which could pass for a deliberate attempt to delineate the Christian population in Northern Nigeria.

“Our concern also stems from the fact that the action of the APC can breed distrust amongst the religious groupings in the country. It must be stated that with the Muslim-Muslim Ticket, the Northern Christians have been marginalized and without recourse to the implication of such actions in the overall psyche of the people,” the group said.

The group vowed that the ruling party would not get any support from Northern Christians unless the leadership of the APC addressed its concerns.

They called on Christians named in the APC Presidential Campaign Council to quit without further delay in protest until the needful is done.

“The APC leadership must desist from treating Northern Christians as inconsequential in the country’s scheme of affairs.

“Christians will not support the APC Presidential Team until the Muslim – Muslim Ticket issue is resolved holistically.”

Another gale of defections has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Katsina State as no fewer than 12,963 members of the parties have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The defectors, who are from Jibia and Kaita Local Government Areas of the state, included a former Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Skill Acquisition and Vocational Training, Aminu Lawal, while other bigwigs of the APC, Alhaji Sa’adu Maigishiri, Hon. Lawal Abba, Nura Damaga, Mansur Mani, Basiru Isyaku and others also defected to PDP.

This is coming barely nine days after the defection of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and governorship aspirant of the APC, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, to the PDP.

Lawal, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, alleged that they dumped the ruling APC over leadership failure and the inability of its government to ward off insecurity and economic challenges affecting residents of the state.

He claimed that the APC-led government in the state lacks administrative principles and policies that would usher in democratic dividends to rural dwellers that will alleviate their plights and bring purposeful governance in the state.

Receiving the defectors, the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Danmarke, said if elected as governor of the state in 2023, he would restore security and revamp small and medium enterprises in the state within his first 100 days in office.

He lamented that Jibia, a border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic, which used to be the hotbed of commercial activities in the state and Northern Nigeria, has been crippled due to what he termed bad leadership and government’s policies of the APC.

According to him, “Commercial activities of Jibia town have been crippled because of the bad leadership and policies of the APC government in the state and at the national level.

“When we come to power in 2023 by His grace, we will ensure that Jibia returns to its past glory as the window of economic activities in the entire country by restoring the security and economy of our state in our first 100 days in office.”

The state PDP Chairman, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Lawal Uli, said: “We received 12,963 APC and NNPP members today (Saturday) into our great party the PDP. The defectors are from Jibia and Kaita Local Government Areas alone.”

The state PDP chairman while welcoming the defectors, assured them of justice and fair play that the “party is known for over the years”, alleging that the APC and NNPP are buried in the state.

He urged them to work hard and woo other APC supporters into the PDP fold for the success of the party in the forthcoming general election.

“Obi-dients” are the new Buharists.

Better get ready for their rank stupidity and pigheadedness should Peter Obi become president. They’re perpetually angry. They're narrowminded, verbally primitive, ignorant, tunnel-visioned automatons who think their illiterate trolling can stop people from expressing views contrary to theirs.

They constitute a risible horde of unthinking troll brigade on the Internet and are incapable of the most basic level of cognitive complexity. If you’re not one of them, you are against them. If you don’t sacrifice your critical faculty on the altar of Peter Obi political idolatry, you’re against their idol.

If you write any favorable article about Obi, you’re an unflinching patriot, but if you do the same for Obi’s opponents, you’re a paid supporter of their idol's opponents. They live in a world of Manichean binaries. Nuance is a strange concept to them.

If Satan were to magically emerge today and endorse Obi, they’ll sanctify Satan as Angel Gabriel and sing his praises. They're that stupid.

They deserve their name. Obedience, after which "Obidience" is modeled, means a dutiful surrender of one's critical senses to someone in authority, and that's what Obidients do every waking moment of their miserable lives since they caught the bug of Obimania.

Postscript: Obi supporters are different from "Obidients." Obi supporters are merely people who genuinely believe Obi is the best candidate out of the lot and often use the resources of evidence and logic to make their point. Unlike "Obidients," Obi supporters want to build bridges.