₦airaland Forum

The Ondo state Caucus at the House of representatives has frowned at the neglect of Qualified officers of Ondo extraction from promotion to Major General and equivalent by the Nigerian Armed forces.

The Army, Navy and Airforce had recently elevated officers to the rank of Major General and equivalent by the three arms of the armed forces.

According to a statement issued by the Caucus’s Spokesman, Israel Fagbemigun, members expressed shock that across the three services, no officer from Ondo State was promoted even when ten of them are sufficiently qualified for promotion to the 2 Star rank.

The caucus considers a form of marginalization while urging Service Chiefs to address it urgently.

https://tvcnews.tv/ondo-reps-demand-review-of-army-promotion-over-alleged-marginalisation/
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Mynd44

As President Muhammadu Buhari patiently awaits the social media and hate speech bills undergoing legislative processes in the National Assembly to get to his table for his final assent before they become laws in Nigeria, Nigerians have taken up the gauntlet to fight what they perceive as government’s move to suppress citizens’ inalienable rights to freedom of expression and speech.

For the government, the bills are good for the peaceful co-existence and survival of Nigeria as a country, and must eventually become laws. But, for many Nigerians, the bills when passed into law would shrink the democratic space, stifle the people’s freedom to challenge government’s bad policies, set the country backwards and ultimately midwife fascism and autocracy in the country; a situation they have vowed not to allow. The development has pitched the government against the people, with both sides flexing muscles and waiting for who blinks first.

Two senators representing Niger East and Niger North Senatorial Districts on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed Sani Musa and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi have been in the news recently for initiating the bills to regulate the social media, and hate speech bills in Nigeria.

Senator Musa’s bill, which intends to regulate the social media, with the title, “Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill”, successfully scaled through the second reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

However, his counterpart, Senator Abdullahi’s bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches and for Other Related Matters,” not only seeks to control hate speech; but also pushes to ensure that those who are found guilty of hate speech face death penalty.

What the two gentlemen saw as their own little contributions to deepening the democratic space as well as bringing about growth and development in Nigeria is today generating so much controversy, both within and outside the country, with a cross section of Nigerians stoutly rising against the bills, which they have plainly described as government’s subtle means to gag the media, suppress the citizens’ freedom of expression and silence any kind of opposition’s voice in Nigeria.

Although, Musa who initiated the social media bill had explained that the intendment of the bill was not to stifle free speech, but to address a growing threat, which if left unchecked, could cause serious damage in the polity and disrupt peaceful coexistence, Nigerians are not prepared to accept his explanation.

Since the introduction of the bills, various schools of thought have emerged. There are some Nigerians who believe that the development simply means that government has failed to meet up with the citizens’ needs and aspirations.

They argue that the bills, when passed into law, would ensure that even though Nigerians are not happy with the government and their political leaders, they cannot complain. This is because any attempt to complain would amount to breaking either of the two laws which could lead to long term imprisonment or even death, depending on which of the two laws is infringed upon.

Again, there are people who believe that the promoters of the bills and the government have ulterior motives, otherwise why would they be pushing for such laws when the constitution has more than enough laws to take care of libel, defamation and sedition, which are what the bills when passed into law seek to address.

However, there is another school of thought which holds that senators are dancing to the drumbeats of the executive arm of government led by President Buhari, who is rumoured to be nursing a third term ambition.

Last week, an APC chieftain in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria, Mr. Charles Enya, had approached the court to plead that the aspect of the constitution which denies Buhari the right to contest for the presidency a third time should be expunged from the constitution. He also asked that a similar step should be taken to pave way for state governors to also go for third term in office.

Although Buhari had publicly said he does not have any third term ambition and neither would he do anything that would endanger the constitution, while his party, the APC, has also publicly condemned Mr. Enya’s action, threatening to even expel him from the party for such an unconstitutional move, Nigerians are still not taking the matter lightly.

Close observers of political developments in Nigeria since the return of civil rule in 1999, would quickly make reference to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who at the twilight of his administration in 2007, was also rumoured to have had a third term ambition. Obasanjo, they said, was known to have dispelled the rumour at the time; but it eventually turned out to be true.

If not for the doggedness and patriotism of the then fifth National Assembly and its leadership, coupled with constant pressures and protests by the civil society organisations and Nigerians at large, Obasanjo’s surreptitious plot would have pulled through.

It is the Obasanjo’s ugly history that the proponents of this theory don’t want to be repeated, as Nigerians learnt their lesson in a very hard way. And they also believe strongly that if Obasanjo could contemplate that, Buhari might not be an exception since both have military background and similar political trajectory of being military Head of State as well as civilian presidents. That is why in spite of the assurances from the president and his party, Nigerians’ scepticism remains strong and unwavering.

Yet, there are those who argue that instead of pushing for a law against hate speech, the senator should have considered a law against hate behaviour. Proponents of this view believe that it is hate behaviour that begets hate speech, and that without hate behaviour, there won’t be any hate speech. They cited instances of hate behaviour to include deliberate move by the government to ensure that certain section of the country is placed over and above other sections, flagrant disregard to court orders by the president, and failure of the party in government to deliver to the people its campaign promises among others.

In all of these, several questions agitate the minds of Nigerians. They want to know who determines what a hate speech is. They also want to know if one is deemed to have committed hate speech when one speaks truth to power or against government policies. For all they care, the bills when passed into law, will be anti-people, capable of sending Nigerians back to the Stone Age and as such, must be resisted by all lovers of civilization and modernity.

Political analysts are of the view that when the bills are passed into law, the rumoured third term ambition of Buhari, which has been vehemently denied, would resurface, and when that happens, the laws would be deployed to hound any voice that would rise against the president’s ambition. This is because anybody that criticizes or condemns the president’s ambition would have breached the hate speech law and would be decisively dealt with. To this group, if the bills are passed into law, Nigeria would have become a fascist and totalitarian state, where free speech is no longer guaranteed, and where the whims and caprices of the president and other political office holders can no longer be questioned or challenged by anybody.

Nigerians are equally angry that Senator Musa’s bill is an awful cut-and-paste job, copied from Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act No. 18 of 2019, which was signed into law on June 3, but entered into force on October 3, 2019. They wondered why Musa and his distinguished senatorial supporters are only interested in extinguishing in Nigerians any capacity to complain about misrule and not interested in copying Singapore’s experience of decent and effective government.

Opposition mounts

Since the introduction of the bills, there has been a groundswell of firm and stiff opposition from Nigerians cutting across political, religious, social and ethnic as well as professional divides. From the former president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, to Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, Civil Society Organisations and human rights groups and millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

Babangida had stated unequivocally that nobody could muzzle the media, even as he insisted that there was no basis for the bill which had scaled the second reading in the Senate. He said the bill was an eye service by the sponsors and described the prescribed death penalty as crude and wicked.

The former president who bared his mind on the controversial issue at his palatial hill top home in Minna when the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Christopher Isiguzo visited him, promised to team up with the union and other stakeholders to protest the passage of the bill. He said: “I am with you on this. I will also talk to those of us who could be in position to bring sanity to bear on some of these things.”

Babangida, who said he has been following media publications on the forthcoming American election, argued that if American journalists were to be in Nigeria, they would all have been jailed. He challenged the media to remain strong and focused on what Nigerians want, adding that the country could only succeed if unfettered freedom is allowed without death threat.

For the United Nations envoy, Amina Mohammed, there is nothing bad in trying to regulate the social media to ensure a decent media space, but that is not to say that hate speech offenders should be put to death. She clearly stated that she would not support death sentence for hate speech offenders.

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola also described the bill as a slide to dictatorship. He said the bill was needless, and unwarranted for anyone to contemplate another law to deal with false publication when there are laws already promulgated to take care of such situation. He spoke at ABUAD in Ado-Ekiti when the Ekiti State chapter of the NUJ presented an award of excellence to him.

Gov Akeredolu at the opening ceremony of the sixth biennial conference of the University of Ilorin Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies department last week, opposed the proposed death penalty for hate speech offenders in the country, and likened it to sentencing someone who steals N10,000 to death and freeing another who steals N1million. “When I was the president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), I vehemently condemned capital punishment for criminals. I will be a turn-coat as governor to now support death penalty for hate speech offenders,” he said.

Also, the outspoken Catholic priest, Bishop Kuka, described the bill as a short walk to totalitarianism, even as he lamented that Nigeria has not been anywhere near democracy going by the real definition of the term ‘democracy.’

He said: “I have consistently tried to create levels of differentiation between democracy and dictatorship, especially dictatorships of the military variant as we have had in Nigeria. I have argued that Nigeria is still very far away from the goal posts of what could be called a democratic society. In my view, the environment does not as yet look anything democratic because the actors are largely strangers to the ethos of democracy, and what is more, too many of them are tied to the old order, not to talk of the fact that the presence of General – presidents suggest that we are still in the thrall of militarism.

“Democracy thrives on debate, consensus building, negotiation, persuasion, and argumentation, rule of law, process, and inclusion. The military thrives in a coup culture, secrecy, betrayal, violence, command structure, exclusion and lack of transparency. That explains why I have always warned against describing the current charade of violent elections as democracy.”

Former Minister of Education and co-founder of #BringBackOurGirls Movement, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has also urged women, especially those in political offices and women groups, to raise their voices against the passage of the hate speech bill. She made the call at a national women’s dialogue tagged, ‘WOMANIFESTO2019: What the Nigerian women want,’ held in Abuja last week. She described the bill as anti-people, as it seeks to stifle the voice of Nigerians. “Women will be the worst for it if the hate speech bill is passed because it is against the freedom of expression. The hate speech bill that they are talking about is not going to help the Nigerian woman when we are trying to say what women want,” she added.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on its own part had also insinuated that the bill was either to Islamise Nigeria or skewed to make the alleged third term ambition of the president a reality. But, the spokesperson for the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki had debunked the PDP’s allegation, saying that the hate speech bill before the Senate is a private senator bill and not an executive bill. “It is the right of a senator to sponsor a private member bill. We also have the executive bill but the hate speech bill before the Senate today is a private senator bill. Mr. President has nothing to do with it and it has nothing to do with third term agenda,” Akwashiki added.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE), has also issued a 21-day ultimatum to the National Assembly to throw away the bill, suspend the sponsors of the bill and tender unreserved apology to Nigerians.

A statement by HURIDE’s Board of Trustees chairman, Dede Uzor, said the reactivation of the bill was a clear indication that members of the National Assembly were despots disguised as democrats. “This bill cannot stand. It should be thrown into the dustbin of history, like its forebears, Decree 4, which was promulgated by Buhari as a military Head of State in 1983. He used it to imprison citizens without trial. The National Assembly should apologise to Nigerians for coming up with this obnoxious, Stone Age and anti-people bill. It is a revival of Decree 4 of 1983. It is shameful that our legislators allowed Buhari’s dictatorial tendency to loom large in a democratic environment,” Uzor stated.

Last week, scores of protesters stormed the National Assembly, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the bills aimed at regulating the social media and prescribing capital punishment for hate speech offenders. According to one of the organisers of the protest, Henry Shield, the protest was to express Nigerians’ displeasure and rejection of the two controversial bills. He also argued that there are existing laws in Nigeria which are appropriate for dealing with the issues that the bills are meant to address.

However, Senators Uba Sani and Oseni Yakubu who addressed the protesters on behalf of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, assured that the bills would not be passed if they were rejected by Nigerians during the public hearing.

Sani, who represents Kaduna Central, said: “We have heard your agitation. We believe it is a very important agitation. Some of us in the chamber have also been involved in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in the country. The two bills in question were introduced by some of our colleagues. Some of us in the National Assembly, including the Senate president, would appear at the public hearing. Whatever Nigerians want is what the Ninth Senate would do.

“The law is not about the 109 senators. It is about Nigerians. Democracy is about free speech, it is about the rule of law. That is why their voices are extremely important. That is why we believe that your agitation is valid and also in the best interest of our own country. We are going to certainly work with you on the day of the public hearing. I can assure you we are going to do whatever is in the best interest of our country.

“We are aware of Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act and some of us are on the same page with these agitations. We are not guided by any political affiliation. We are guided by the law and concerned about the progress of our country.”

Yakubu, who represents Kogi Central, also said: “I want to assure you that the Ninth Senate is not in any way an appendage of the executive. No single bill will pass without public hearing. We are here to make laws for Nigerians, not Senate. We are all here to protect the interests of Nigerians.”

But, many Nigerians will not buy into the assurances of the Senate; not when majority of Nigerians view the upper legislative chamber as a puppet and lackey in the hands of the executive. To this class of Nigerians, the Senate does not have a mind of its own; it is tenaciously tied to the apron string of the executive. “Can the Senate make any decision without the approval of the executive arm? It is not possible. This current Senate is a disappointment to Nigerians. No wonder the election of its leadership was a do-or-die affair for the executive arm. The coast is now very clear and Nigerians can now see the real intention behind the deep-in-neck involvement of the executive arm during that election. We cannot be deceived. What Nigerians want is outright withdrawal of the bills and not any public hearing,” they insisted.

Government’s stand

The minister of Information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday, November 14, declared that there was going back on the plan by the Federal Government to regulate the social media in Nigeria. He made the government’s position very clear at a session with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers in Abuja. He insisted that it was the right thing to do, adding that no amount of criticism would discourage the government from the plan.

Again on Monday, November 18, when he received a delegation from the NUJ, led by its national president, Chris Isiguzo, he insisted that the social media bill when passed into law would bring sanity into the system, stressing that those who are uncomfortable with the bill are the purveyors of fake news and hate speech.

Following the barrage of criticisms and protests that have greeted the pending bills, the Senate has promised to look into the hate speech bill and see how it could drop the death penalty aspect of it. And for the FG, only rejection by the Senate would save Nigerians from the troubles of the intended social media law.

As it is, Nigerians are waiting to see what the Senate would do in the next couple of days. Although, they have made their stand clear, which is that the two bills should be consigned to the dustbin of history, where they belong. But, can the Senate which many see as a rubber stamp of the executive muster the courage to respect the wishes and yearnings of Nigerians, whom they represent? Would they change overnight from being a lapdog to an attack dog, which not only barks but also bites? Answers to these and many more questions, as the saying goes, are buried in the belly of time.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/controversy-questions-over-hate-speech-bills/

....I cleared all debt before handing over - Al-Makura

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has raised alarm that he inherited huge debt from previous administrations that is affecting the smooth running of his government.

He explained that tough times await the people of the state next year as revenue accruing to the state keep dwindling.

He regretted that huge sums of money was being deducted at source monthly by the federal government as bailout, budget support facility and infrastructure loan the previous government took.

Governor Sule stated this at two different occasions recently, the retreat for new commissioners in Akwanga local government and when he played host to speakers of legislative councils in the said LGAs at the Government house Lafia.

Our correspondent gathered that the immediate past government under Umaru Tanko Al-Makura received N8.9bn bailout from the Federal Government in September 2015.

The same Al-Makura government took another loan from the federal government to the tune of about N800m to pay salaries and another N10bn loan from excess crude account to develop infrastructures in the state.

Governor Sule expressed worries that the deductions of this three different loans are coming at the time he is committed to paying 100% salaries and pensions as well as the federal government implementation of N30,000 minimum wage.

According to him ” The way things are going, the revenue Nasarawa will get next year will be worse than what we will get from the federation account this year.

“The reason is that the previous government took budget support facility to the tune of about N800m and the whole idea was to pay salaries, in 2015 the state took another loan called bailout and there was another N10bn loan from excess crude account.

“So at the end of the day, we have three facilities that were taken, we are paying them back now starting from September 2019 and it will continue, that is why I said let us face realities, the revenue coming in will be lower and there are deductions already” he said

The Governor explained that governing the state at the moment required enormous sacrifice, noting that he has develop a template to cut down cost of governance to the barest minimum.

But speaking two months to hand over at the government house, Al-Makura said he was not leaving behind any debt for the new government of Abdullahi Sule.

Al-Makura who is now a senator representing Nasarawa south had said that he inherited N40bn debt on assumption of office in 2011 but has cleared all the debt he inherited from past administration.

According to him “The Sule administration will take off on a clean slate as all the debts owed by the state have been cleared, noting that all the loans he took to execute capital projects had been paid off in addition to clearing N40bn debt inherited” Al-Makura had said.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nasarawa-gov-sule-raises-alarm-over-n18-9bn-debt-inherited-from-predecessor-al-makura/
Mynd44
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The Taraba State House of Assembly on Monday elected the Majority Leader, Joseph Albasu Alkinjoh, as its Speaker.

Alkinjoh is representing the people of Lau constituency in the Assembly.

Abdullahi Hamman Adama, from Bali II constituency, emerged the deputy Speaker, while Rtd Capt. Douglas Ndatse is the Majority Leader.

The change in the House’s leadership followed the resignation of the former Speaker, Peter Abel Diah and his deputy, Charles Maijankai, Sunday night.

Their resignation letters were read by the Clerk of the House, Orngu Mela, at a plenary Monday morning.

The former Speaker threw in the towel after a 2/3 majority of the 24-member House had concluded arrangements to impeach him today.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-taraba-assembly-gets-new-speaker/
Mynd44
Lalasticlala

The Senate has said it is not possible for it to initiate a bill that prescribes the death penalty for looters.

The red chamber, however, pledged to support any executive or private member bill that would criminalise acts of corruption.

The spokesperson for the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki, stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday.

He spoke against a backdrop of some Nigerians and groups calling for a bill that prescribes the death penalty for treasury looters instead of the lawmakers devoting time to social media and hate speech bills.

Akwashiki explained that it was impossible for the Senate President to direct any senator to produce any particular bills, including one that prescribes the death penalty for looters.

“It is not possible for the Senate President to direct any senator to go and produce a particular type of bill. All of us are elected to represent our constituency from various parts of the country,” he said.

The Senate spokesperson also said different punishments were already prescribed against corruption in the acts that established the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“We have the ICPC Act and the EFCC Act and there are punishments there for offenders. I want to believe we are going gradually. However, any bill that would criminalise looting is a good proposal that the Senate could consider,” he said.

Akwashiki, however, said the executive arm of government, groups or individuals should initiate bills that prescribe the death penalty for treasury looters and see if the upper chamber would not push them through.

He also described as untrue insinuations that senators, particularly former governors and ministers in the red chamber, would reject such legislation in order to protect themselves.

He said, “We started a serious fight against corruption a few years ago when President Muhammadu Buhari got into office.

“The issue of a bill against corruption and looters in the Senate is a constitutional right of every senator, the executive arm of government, groups or private individuals.

“Anybody in the country is free to propose a bill through any senator. If you have such a proposal, get in touch with your senator, sit down with him and convince him why you want that type of law to be enacted.”

Stressing that the red chamber would support any bill that criminalises corruption, Akwashiki said, “This country belongs to all of us. Every person in this country has the right to present their opinion in terms of enacting an Act for the benefit of the people.

“When the Senate discovers there are many people requesting a particular bill, one day, one senator will just wake up and initiate a proposal and present it before his colleagues.”

He also said not all former governors or former ministers in the red chamber were corrupt.

He said, “We have 109 senators. How many are former governors or ministers?

“Are you saying we could get 60 senators who are either former governors or ministers?

“Senate is a place where everybody is free to express their opinions, according to the wishes of the people who elected them.

“The Senate chamber is higher than any former governor or minister.”

Meanwhile, the Senate spokesperson said the red chamber had yet to discuss the issue of the death penalty in the hate speech bill because the proposal still remained the personal property of the sponsor until it passed second reading.

He said, “The issue of expunging the death penalty from the hate speech bill is not the decision of the Senate yet. There is a process of enacting an Act. The bill will pass first, second and third readings.

“The hate speech bill has just been mentioned for the first time. It has not come up for a second reading. It is when it is introduced for the second time that the senators will for the first time voice out for or against the bill.

“For now, the sponsor has said he will expunge the clause that prescribes the death penalty for hate speech; that is his own personal opinion.

“I have said it times without number that the hate speech bill is a private member bill. When we get to its second reading, that is when Nigerians will know the position of the Senate on the bill. If the bill does not pass second reading, that will be its end.

“The senators may even decide to remove other clauses apart from the death penalty provision.”
https://punchng.com/why-we-cant-initiate-death-penalty-bill-for-looters-senate/

Hundreds of civilians have fled their homes as suspected Boko Haram insurgents are currently attacking Lassa town in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, local vigilantes and resident sources have said.

The terrorists stormed the town of Lassa through Dille axis at about 6pm on Friday evening, shooting sporadically and set houses ablaze.

According to a resident, Britus Apagu, hundreds of people had fled into bushes for safety.

He said, "They came through Dille Road and engaged military there while others came from another axis shooting all angles.

"We are helpless now, as I am speaking to you we are in the bush, heavy gunshots are going on."

Vigilante source disclosed that many houses are being set on fire.

"They stormed Lassa, shooting in two directions, one group engaged troops with RPGs and heavy weapons, they came on military vehicles and motorcycles.

"I could sight flame inside the town, many houses are on fire," a vigilante source said.
http://saharareporters.com/2019/11/29/breaking-hundreds-fleeing-homes-bharam-attacks-lassa
oam4j
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Mynd44

The First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari has called for the regulation of social media, noting that China with about 1.3 billion people had done so, stressing that many people could not visit their villages on account of fake news broadcasts.

She also berated state governors for failing to provide basic social amenities and infrastructure.

She said that things were getting out of hand, saying that her husband alone cannot handle the challenges facing the nation and admonished the political leaders to work together to bail the country of out of the challenges. She spoke on Friday at the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) General Assembly and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the National Mosque Abuja, with the theme, “Islam and National Development”.

She said, “On this issue of social media, you cannot just sit in the comfort of your house and tweet that the Vice President has resigned. It is a serious issue. If China can control over 1.3bn people on social media, I see no reason why Nigeria cannot attempt controlling only 180m people.”

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while formally declaring the conference opened, admonished Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper regardless of their religious affiliation, as all Nigerians are equal. He stated, “It is my view that the weight of ensuring that this country is on the right track is on our leaders. We should be our brother’s keeper no matter the religion.We should always be ready to make sacrifices for one another.

We have religious and tribal tension in this country. Many are beating the drum of ethnic and religious war. We are at a historic juncture of our nation.”

The NSCIA President-General and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III in his opening remarks, said the nation must come together to address its challenges, insisting that girl-child education and the Almajiri phenomenon must be addressed urgently.

He also disagreed with the calls for social media regulation, stating that there were laws to deal with the abuse of the platforms. “I have received so many calls on the need to regulate social media. In Nigeria, there are so many laws that can deal with this issue. “Some people even proposed having a hate speech law.

We must accept the outcome of whatever the people decided. After all, people voted for our political leaders. Let us listen to the voices of the people. It is important for us to do the wish of Nigerians,” the Sultan said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/aisha-buhari-disagrees-with-sultan-insists-on-social-media-regulation.html

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State in the March 9 governorship election.

In a unanimous judgement delivered on Thursday, the court dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the poll, Mr Emmauel Jime, for lacking in merit.

The judgment also resolved all the issues against the appellants.

Meanwhile, the appellate court awarded the sum of N150,000 fine against the APC candidate.

Governor Ortom contested for re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after defecting from the APC.

In his reaction, the governor described the judgment as a victory for the people of the state who gave him a second term mandate.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, he noted that verdict has not only validated the earlier judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal but also confirmed the choice of Benue voters in the 2019 polls.

The governor also thanked the leadership and members of the PDP in the state and the residents in general for the support given to him.

He thanked his legal team for its outstanding performance at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Governor Ortom, however, stressed that the task of building the state was the responsibility of all the people and called on the APC candidate and other contestants in the last election to join hands with him to develop Benue.

He stated that his administration would collaborate with sons and daughters of the state, irrespective of political differences, ethnicity, religion, and place of origin.
https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/28/breaking-court-dismisses-jime-apcs-appeal-challenging-ortoms-re-election/
Mynd44
Lalasticlala

Price of rice, a staple consumed during festivities in Nigeria, has risen by over 29.41 per cent since July, along with other foodstuffs. This is even as Christmas is just a few weeks away, Anna Okon reports

Before August 28 when the Nigeria Customs Service closed the borders against her neighbours, the price of rice was N17,000 per 50-kilogramme bag, having risen from N14, 000 a few months before.

Currently the price of foreign parboiled rice, has gone up to between N22, 000 and N30, 000, findings by our correspondent have shown.

Also, the price of local rice that is positioned to replace foreign ones on Nigeria’s dietary palate has also gone up.

It was gathered that the local rice at Bodija market in Ibadan, Oyo State, was being sold for N20, 000 per 50kg bag and N16, 000/50kg in Minna in Niger State.

In Garko Market, Kano, it sells for N20, 000/50kg bag.

In Lapal, Niger State; Gboko, Benue State; Maitagari, Jigawa State and Ughelli, Delta State, local rice sells for N18,000/50kg, N11,000/50kg, N19,000/50kg and N23,000/50kg bag, respectively.

In Egbeda Market in Lagos, local rice sells for about N18, 000; in Umuahia main market, Abia State, it sells for N22, 000.

The popular Ofada rice, consumed for its rich nutritional value and great flavour, sells for N28, 000 per 50kg bag and between N2, 800 and N3, 500 per 5kg bag.

This was not the case in July as data from Nigerian agriculture produce portals show.

In July, imported rice was N17, 000; local rice sold for between N11, 000 and N15, 000 for 50kg bag.

Other staples such as noodles, chicken and mackerel (ice fish) have also witnessed price increases.

Mackerel, for instance, has increased from between N950 and N1,000 per kilo to N1, 200/kilo. The price of noodles has moved from between N1,800 and N1,950 per carton to N2,100.

The breeder agriculture chicken sold for N4,500 in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, currently sells for between N5,000 and N5, 500.

The NBS in its Consumer Price Index which measures inflation stated that inflation rate hit 11.61 per cent in October from 11.24 in September, increasing by 0.37 per cent.

The bureau stated that this was the highest increase in eight months.

Some consumers said it would be tough to buy food items for the Yuletide season.

One of them, a housewife, Buky Olaoye, said, “The only way to do it is to buy items from far away markets where things are cheaper. Instead of buying foodstuffs in Ikeja, for instance, we will have to buy from Oyingbo or Egbeda.

“Also, it will be wise for two or more people to come together and buy in bulk and then share items.”

The Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Muda Yusuf, said the months ahead would be tough for consumers.

He said at this time of the year, due to high demand ahead of the festive season, rice and other staples usually witnessed increase in price.

Yusuf said, “However, this year has been more severe because of the border closure as a large supply of food items comes from neighbouring countries and once that supply is suddenly cut off, then it leads to scarcity.

“Things will likely continue to be tight for consumers up till early next year and it affects other commodities apart from rice as people try to find cheaper alternatives.”

He advised the government to intensify efforts at boosting local production.

He said, “Productivity is still very low. Many farmers are still relying on the traditional method of farming. That cannot feed 200 million people.

“Government should do something fast because this is a real social problem. The government should consider the plight of those who are paying the high prices.”

The Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr Timothy Olawale, said the government had achieved economic and security gains from the border closure.

Olawale said the same could not be said for the ordinary man in view of skyrocketing prices of food.

He said, “One had expected that the price of rice for instance would crash due to local production. A bag of rice that went for N14, 000 before border closure now sells for N26, 000.

“Turkey and chicken are now so prohibitive that other options like beef and goat meat are no longer preferred alternatives as they have also joined the league of food out of the reach of the masses.

“This underscores the fact that Nigeria is not self-sufficient in food production as wrongly assumed by the government. Workers’ take-home or pay can no longer take them beyond the bus stop.

“The masses are totally at the receiving end. Businesses especially in the hospitality sector have not fared well as the cost of stocking food is gradually becoming a Herculean task with food cost served guests per cover being increased.”

He said the border closure would not have been necessary if the government agents put in charge of manning them were efficient.

“Nigerians are choking and gradually being emasculated by this economic strangulation. Only timely interventions by government will save the situation,” he said.

Olawale argued that the passage of the new finance bill that would increase Value Added Tax, excise duties and other levies would bring untold hardship on the common man.

“Nigerians are urged to tighten their belts and prepare for real hard times as it seems government interest and economic agenda geared towards the maximisation of revenue at the expense of the welfare of the masses,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Comtrade Group, an agriculture conglomerate, Mr Abiodun Oladapo, said most agro entrepreneurs had abandoned their infrastructure used in the production of food locally because smuggling of the products had sent them out of business.

He said, “These people are returning to their farms now that the borders have been shut and the demand for food is rising.

“It will take time because for chicken alone, it will take a minimum of 42 days to breed; the same for many other items.”

Oladapo, who is in support of the border closure, gave the assurances that if it was sustained, local farmers would produce enough to crash the prices of food.

https://punchng.com/rice-price-rises-by-29-41-in-2-months/

Acting chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF), Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande said Northerners will vote for a northerner presidential candidate to take over from Muhammadu Buhari irrespective of the party he belongs.

Kwande stated this on Sunday in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, saying that, “I am expressing my opinion as a full fledged Northerner and a citizen of Nigeria and not that of ACF”.

“Northern Nigerians who are tested and trusted should contest for any political office with anybody from any part of Nigeria and the people should exercise their democratic franchise to vote for their candidate of choice.”

Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande said, ACF and Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) are all pressure groups striving for the development of northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria in general, just like Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and others in the South South region.

Alhaji Kwande who is the Baraden -generalismo- of Lafia in Nasarawa state, however, call on Northerners to strive towards developing the region by voting for people who are pro-development and not those who are self-centered.

He said, “Nigeria is our country, we must unite and develop it despite being from different geographical locations. We should not relent in the pursuit of growth and development as we are blessed with gifted people and many resources, as only Nigerians would develop the country to greater heights.”

The acting ACF chairman however called on Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue and denounce violence, which he said is against democratic norms and a treat to the federation.

He called on politicians to accept election result and be statesmen and the youth to avoid being used as political thugs.

https://thenationonlineng.net/2023-northerners-will-only-vote-for-a-northern-presidential-candidate-ag-acf-chairman/

An Edo State High Court has directed that Barr. Anselm Ojezua be recognised as State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state.

It granted an order of interim injunction directing that the status quo as at 10th of November, 2019 with regards to the chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress bê maintained.

The court presided over by Justice O. Oviawe said the status quo be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice praying for an order of interlocutors injunction.

Justice O Oviawe granted the order in the suit filed by Anselm Ojezua, Kenneth Asekhema and Dr. Aisosa Amadasun.

Defendants in the suit are Col. David Imuse (rtd) Lawrence Okah and Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Ojezua was last week removed from office after eleven out of the 16 member State Working Committee signed a removal notice on him as state chairman of the party.

However, three out of the eleven members have denounced their signatories on the document.

In the suit, Ojezua sought for interim injunction directing that the status quo as at 10th November 2019 with regards to the chairmanship of the All Progressive Congress, Edo State chapter, be maintained by the parties.

Deriving ruling, Justice Oviawe said, “I have come to a determination that this application for an order of interim injunction finds merit.

“I am satisfied that there is a substantial issue to be tried at the hearing. In line with the authorities and being satisfied as to the urgency of this application, the application is hereby granted as prayed.

“Accordingly, an order of interim injunction is hereby granted directing that the status quo as at 10/11/19 with regards to the chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress, Edo State chapter, be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice praying for an order of interlocutory injunction.”

Justice Oviawe adjourned till Thursday, December 5th, 2019 for hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

It was gathered that the Ojezua who was present at the APC NEC meeting in Abuja was allowed entry based on the court ruling.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/breaking-court-upholds-ojezua-as-edo-apc-chairman/amp/

Pro-democracy campaigner and Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has sued the Department of State Services over his arrest and continued detention since August 3, 2019 despite two courts directing the agency to release him.

Sowore is asking the court to order the DSS to pay him N500m as general and aggravated damages for his detention and illegal violation of fundamental rights.

The activist made the demand in a suit marked FHC/ABJ /C51409/2019 dated November 20, 2019 and obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.
The suit was supported by a 21-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abubakar Marshall and accompanied by a written address.

It reads, "A declaration that the detention of the applicant from November 7, 2019 till date in violation of the order for his release made on November 6, 2019 is illegal as it violates his fundamental right to liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 of African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

"An order of this court compelling the respondents to pay to the applicant the sum of N500,000, 000, 00 ( Five hundred million naira) as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the applicant's fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, health, freedom of movement and freedom of association.

"An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the applicant's fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and however without lawful justification."

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is joined in the suit.

Sowore was arrested in Lagos on August 3, 2019 for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand a better country from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The government has accused him of insulting President Buhari and planning to bring down his government - charges observers around the world including leading legal practitioners describe as frivolous and laughable.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/11/22/breaking-sowore-files-fundamental-rights-enforcement-application-demands-n500m-damages
Mynd44
Lalasticlala

CreepyBlackpool:
Your post implies his defection caused his death

Ask The Nation

A cleric identified as Pastor Aimola John has slumped and died shortly after joining Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Aimola was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital he was rushed to.

He had left the APC in 2015 alongside Pastor Ize-Iyamu and was among former PDP members that were returning home to the APC at the residence of Ize-Iyamu where he slumped.

He was said to have been a former chairmanship candidate for Owan East Local Governemnt Area.

Tributes have been poured in for him on the social media where he was hailed as a true loyal party man

A former Secretary of Owan East, Mr. Godwin Imoudu, who confirmed his death said late Aimola was in Benin to defect to the APC.
https://thenationonlineng.net/pastor-slumps-dies-shortly-after-defecting-to-apc-in-edo/
Mynd44
Lalasticlala

Zamfara State Police Command on Monday confirmed the killing of 14 persons and injuring of 10 others by bandits in Karaye village of Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the attack is the first major breach of the peace agreement between the state government and the bandits initiated by Governor Bello Matawalle.

A statement issued to newsmen in Gusau by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu said the attack occurred on Sunday.

According to him, a total of 14 persons were killed, 10 others sustained gunshot injuries while some houses were set ablaze.

Shehu recalled that on November 3, some members of a local vigilante group, known as “Yan Sakai” in Bardoki village, attacked and killed nine Fulanis under the suspicion that they were bandits.

He said on receiving the report, the command arrested 11 members of the vigilantes suspected of actively participating in the killing of the Fulanis.

The command’s spokesman said Sunday’s attack might have been a reprisal attack.

“The incident is being investigated by the State CID Gusau and all the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

“However, combined teams attached to Operation puff Adder, men of Operation Hadarin-Daji and vigilantes led by the DPO Gummi mobilised to the scene and embarked on extensive bush combing with a view to trailing and arresting the perpetrators.

“Corpses and injured victims were conveyed to the General Hospital Gummi for autopsy and treatment, ” he explained.

https://punchng.com/14-killed-as-bandits-attack-zamfara-community/
Mynd44
Oam4j
Lalasticlala

...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjwB_LIGxyI

Suspected thugs have attempted to snatch ballot papers in the Odu Ward 4, Odu-Ogboyaga ward 1 of Dekina local government area in Kogi state, where the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Musa Wada cast his vote.

The thugs were confronted by youths and security officials who threw stones and objects to secure the electoral materials.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/16/suspected-thugs-storm-kogi-pdp-governorship-candidates-polling-unit/
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

The Department of State Services (DSS) says Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), chose to remain in its custody because it is taking good care of them.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said this while absolving the secret police from the illegal detention of some notable persons undergoing trials in court.

The agency has come under fire over the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore, convener of RevolutionNow Movement, despite two court orders for his release.

In a statement on Friday, Afunanya said Sowore, El-Zakzaky and Dasuki appealed to the court to remand them in its custody rather than send them to prison.

“There has been outcry about alleged illegal detention of some notable persons undergoing trials at the Courts and disobedience to Court Orders by the Service. To put the records straight, the Service wishes to advert public attention to the circumstances that warranted the custody of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in its facility,” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the duo had appealed to the Courts to be left in the custody of the Service instead of being taken to the Correctional Centres. Well-meaning Nigerians are equally witnesses to the case of Omoleye Sowore, who, on a similar order of the Court, was to be remanded at the Kuje or Suleja Centre, but preferred to be kept at the DSS.

“Everyone, also, saw what eventually played out with El-Zakzaky, when he opted to be returned to the custody of the Service even as the Court had granted him leave to seek medical care in India. These were choices these personalities made on their own volition.”

Afunanya said the DSS has treated the men with “the best courtesies” as “they are allowed access to people and use of other facilities like telephones, gymnasium, TV, newspapers and medical facilities.”

He said the families of the detained persons bring them food of their choices everyday, adding that “there could not have been better treatments than these”.

“Against the wrong perception that the Service held these persons in defiance to Court Orders, it is obvious, by the above explanations, that they rather chose be looked after by the DSS. The reason for such choice is not farfetched. It is simply because the Service’s holding facilities are good and within acceptable international standards,” it read.

While Sowore was arrested in August, Dasuki and El-Zakzaky have been in detention since 2015.
https://www.thecable.ng/dss-el-zakzaky-dasuki-chose-to-be-with-us-because-we-are-taking-care-of-them
Mynd44
Lalasticlala

An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has restored Hon David Lyon as the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the November 16 governorship election.

The appellant Court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) not to remove Lyon as the candidate of the party based on an earlier ruling by Justice Jane Inyang of the Federal High Court who nullified the governorship primary election that produce Lyon.

The Appellant Court order followed an ex parte motion filed by Lyon through his counsel challenging the judgment of Justice Inyang.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/breaking-news-appeal-restore-lyon-as-apc-governorship-candidate/

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, adjourned continuation of hearing on the suit challenging whether Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi is fit to contest in the Nov. 16 governorship election till Nov. 21.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who adjourned the case, said the decision was to afford Gov. Bello, who sought to be joined in the matter, a fair hearing.

Justice Ekwo said all preliminary objections in the suit would be taken in the adjourned date and any party absent on the day would be deemed to have adopted them.

NAN reports that Bello had, through his lawyer, Mike Enahoro, filed a motion to be joined in the case on Friday.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who acknowledged receipt of the motion hinted that the motion sought to stop the court’s proceeding on the matter.

He, however, argued that the motion be thrown out considering that the election is Saturday.

On his part, Counsel to the APC, Abdulwahab Mohammed, said he would need more time to study the motion.

However, Counsel to INEC, Alhassan Umar, SAN, said he had no objection to the motion.

The suit, dated Oct. 10 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1221/2019, filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on Akpoti’s behalf, sought the court’s determination on the eligibility of Governor Bello in the Saturday election, having allegedly involved in double registration as a voter.

Akpoti said “that by his wilful act of making double registration as a voter, Yahaya Bello, candidate of the 1st defendant is not a fit and proper person to be allowed by the 2nd defendant to vote or be voted for in the forthcoming Kogi state governorship election, having committed acts of electoral fraud.

“That Mr Yahaya Bella. the candidate of the 1st Defendant. was initially registered as a voter sometime in 2011 in Abuja, by the 2nd defendant.

“That Bello. the candidate of the 1st defendant again fraudulently procured from the 2nd defendant. a second registration as a voter on May 23, 2017, at Government House, Lokoja, while his 2011 first registration as a voter in Abuja was still live, extant and subsisting.

“That the said Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the 1st defendant carried out the double registration with the 2nd defendant so as to scuttle due electoral process.

“That such a person is not a fit and proper person to vote for in any election, let alone for the high office of the governor of a state.”

https://dailypost.ng/2019/11/15/kogi-guber-court-adjourns-suit-challenging-yahaya-bellos-eligibility-for-saturdays-election/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOUIMqfkGY





Mynd44
Lalasticlala

A suit challenging whether the Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, is fit to contest for the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state will tomorrow, Friday, come up at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The originating summon, which is instituted by Natasha Akpoti, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s governorship candidate in the forthcoming poll, will be mentioned at Court 5 before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while SDP candidate is the plaintiff, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.

The suit, dated Oct. 10 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1221/2019, filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on Akpoti’s behalf, sought the court’s determination on the eligibility of Governor Bello in the Saturday election, having allegedly involved in double registration as a voter.

Akpoti said “that by his wilful act of making double registration as a voter, Yahaya Bello, candidate of the 1st defendant is not a fit and proper person to be allowed by the 2nd defendant to vote or be voted for in the forthcoming Kogi state governorship election, having committed act of electoral fraud.

“That Mr. Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the 1st Defendant. was initially registered as a voter sometime in 2011 in Abuja, by the 2nd defendant.

“That Bello Yahaya, the candidate of the 1st defendant again fraudulently procured from the 2nd defendant. a second registration as a voter on 23rd May,. 2017, at Government House. Lokoja, while his 2011 first registration as a voter in Abuja was still live, extant and subsisting.

“That the said Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the 1st defendant carried out the double registration with the 2nd defendant so as to scuttle due electoral process.

“That such a person is not a fit and proper person to vote for in any election, let alone for the high office of the governor of a state.”

NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on Tuesday, delivered judgment, disqualifying the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa, Sen. Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over false information given in his CF0001 Form submitted to INEC for the Saturday’s poll.

https://thenationonlineng.net/poll-court-to-hear-suit-challenging-yahaya-bellos-eligibility-on-friday/

A Bill to establish the South West Development Commission (SWDC) on Thursday scaled first reading in the Senate.

The Bill titled: “South West Development Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2019” was sponsored by a former Governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun.

It could be recalled that upon the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and North East Development Commission (NEDC), other geopolitical zones in the country have been clamouring that a similar intervention agency be created to take care of their needs.

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) was on Wednesday (yesterday) reintroduced in the Senate by Senator Stella Oduah representing Anambra North.

https://thenationonlineng.net/bill-to-establish-s-west-development-commission-scales-first-reading-in-senate/

The Executive Council of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ratified the suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, from the party in the state.

The decision was reached at an enlarged meeting of the council and other party chieftains with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, in Benin City, on Wednesday.

At the meeting, the leaders said the suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole became necessary because the national chairman has been deploying divisive tactics to cause disharmony in the party in collaboration with the proscribed group, Edo Peoples Movement (EPM).

While addressing APC leaders from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, the State Chairman of the APC, Anslem Ojezua Esq., traced the genesis of the crisis to the primary elections in 2018.

He noted: “All these started since the party primaries in 2018 when we conducted the primaries to nominate candidates for the general elections held in 2019. It appeared that after that elections, Edo APC didn’t know peace again.

“The issues were later aggravated in April and May 2019 which culminated in the formation of the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), an infamous group we proscribed in our last meeting.”

Ojezua said the news of his removal was shocking as the state working committee which purportedly removed him didn’t have powers to do so.

The chieftain added: “Our constitution has a provision to remove officers at the state level. It is only the State Executive Committee that has the power to remove any officer.”

“Yesterday, 15 chairmen of the APC chapters in the local councils and 23 out of the 35 members of the State Executive Committee passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while a vote of confidence was passed on my person.

“The APC Local council chairmen have found out that Adams Oshiomhole is the one behind the crisis in Edo APC and following the findings, lost confidence in the leadership of the national chairman by passing a vote of no confidence on him.

“Considering the stand of these chairmen and also based on the report from organs of the party, we affirmed the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from APC in Edo State.

“Three local government chairmen of the APC were not in attendance at the meeting held on Tuesday. They are the chairmen of the party in Owan West, Etsako West and Etsako Central LGAs. I have letters informing me of their suspension and in that regard the Vice Chairmen are to act until those positions are filled.”

In his remarks, Obaseki explained that he is not happy with the recent political developments in the state, especially the disruptions from a once-trusted leader who has thrown caution to the wind to cause disaffection among APC members in the state.

The governor said when he first met Oshiomhole 12 years ago, they shared a common interest in salvaging Edo State but all that has changed in recent times.

“I am not an ungrateful person. No one made me governor. I became governor by God’s grace, with the support of many other people. If God had said I would not be governor, no way would I have been a governor. It is wrong for someone to say he made me governor.

“No one gave me money. The funds Oshiomhole initially raised for his governorship ambition was raised by me in Lagos. If I can raise money for him for his election, why would I not be able to raise money for my own election.”

The governor said the national chairman was not truthful about comments on his administration.

“If you came into power on some basic principles, do not expect to change those principles because you have certain ambition. If you came to power believing no man is God, then the day you start to play God, you will get the consequences.”

A leader of the APC in Ovia South-West LGA, Hon. Samuel Ekeneza, who moved the motion for the ratification of the suspension of Comrade Oshiomhole, said that the party remains supreme as no individual is bigger than the political party.

The motion for the ratification was supported by a leader of the APC in Esan Central LGA, Mr Osediamen Oriaifoh.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/11/13/breaking-edo-gov-obaseki-other-apc-leaders-endorse-oshiomholes-suspension/