₦airaland Forum

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied fixing dates for political parties primaries, to elect their candidates for the 2019 general elections.

INEC made the clarification in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, on Monday in Abuja.

Osaze-Uzzi said that that the clarification became neccessary following an online publication that a date has been fixed for parties’ primaries, of which few media houses had also reported.

He advised political parties, their members and the general public to ignore the misleading story.



“This is not correct.

”The commission has not fixed the dates or period for the holding of the parties primaries. For the avoidance of doubt, only the dates for elections have been released, not the timetable.

“”It is the timetable and the schedules of activities that will state details of major steps and milestones, including the period for conducting primaries and submission of names for party candidates.

“This will be released in due course and the public and stakeholders will be duly informed through official channels,” he said.

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is opposing the withdrawal of $1 billion approved for the Federal Government by the National Economic Council (NEC) from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) because they fear that what happened while they were in power might repeat itself.
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The APC then challenged the PDP to demand explanation from its 11 governors who also endorsed the approval of the withdrawal.

The PDP had claimed that the money was meant for the ruling party’s 2019 elections’ campaign.

Reacting, APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Monday, said: ‘’We note the statement issued by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the issue of $1 billion approved for the Federal Government from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, for the prosecution of war against terror.



‘’We also note the preposterous allegation by the PDP that the real purpose of the said $1 billion was to fund our Party’s presidential activities, ahead of 2019. We find this allegation baseless and ridiculous to say the least.

‘’The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, that granted the approval has eleven (11) PDP Governors as its members. This means that more than one-third of NGF is made up of members of other Parties other than the APC.

‘’We wonder how the governors, who are not members of our Party would support the decision to approve funds that was ostensibly meant to fund another Party. In essence, the PDP is by this allegation, accusing its governors of disloyalty or suggesting that they were bewitched into supporting the decision. It is that ridiculous!

‘’However, we can understand why it is easy for PDP to arrive at its ludicrous allegation. A similar approval in excess of $2 billion was granted to the PDP government when they were in power.

‘’They knew what they did with the money. It is a classic case of a serial killer who sees even a table knife as a murder weapon. The PDP presided over a government that made it possible for money meant for weapons to be diverted into paying marabouts and all manner of political jobbers ahead of the 2015 election.

“Therefore, the PDP thinks the same thing is about to happen. They have not realised that it is a new day and President Muhammadu Buhari will not play politics with money meant to protect the lives of innocent Nigerians or allow anyone to engage in such brigandage that Nigerians suffered under the PDP.

‘’Another reason that PDP has given for opposing the approval was that the Federal Government has claimed that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. The military authorities have done enough to explain the need for the money, we therefore find no need to repeat the arguments.

‘’It appears however that the PDP does not understand that winning the peace is as important as winning the war.

‘’There is therefore no contradiction in saying that Boko Haram is technically defeated and saying that more weapons and trainings are needed for our military and the military of neighbouring countries whose co-operation is necessary to finally rid our countries of the menace of Boko Haram.

‘’We conclude by saying that we understand the pressure that the PDP is facing to justify its role as an opposition party, but they need to be reminded that opposition is not the same as opposing everything, including those things that are critical to national interest.

‘’We welcome PDP to play its part in ensuring that the money or any public money at all is used for the purpose for which it is intended. In this case, they can simply ensure that their eleven governors demand accountability for the money that they have joined in approving.

‘’The twin principle of accountability and probity are fundamental to APC. If the PDP in their latest reincarnation now consider these principles important, we are happy for them and we welcome them.

‘’It appears however that PDP’s interpretation of its role is to oppose everything even before they had the opportunity to understand it. They have remained embittered over what they thought APC did to them as an opposition party and are therefore seized by an obsession to revenge. In essence, they are primarily driven by vendetta rather than considered national interest.’’

ALHAJI Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto has said the reason Nigeria is consistently in a state of commotion is because its people lack education and proper orientation.
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Mr. Abubakar said this on Monday while turbaning the Sokoto State Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, as the new ‘Ubandoman’‎ of the state.

“If there was education and proper orientation, all these would not have been happening especially at a time when the country is making efforts to secure its rightful place in the development process of its economy and citizens,” he said.

‎He frowned at those hiding under the umbrella of Islam to carryout callous mission of killings and attacks on innocent citizens in the name of religion.

While urging the new Ubandoma to see his position as a reflection of ‎leadership responsibility not rulership, the Sultan said, “This title is not a mere or conventional title but one with religious responsibilities of leadership to foster the teachings and practice in Islam as well the revered institution of the caliphate.

“We have to stick to and maintain the track records and legacies bequeath us for over 200 years.”

‎Umar after receiving the title pledged his loyalty to the Sultan and the sultanate council with a promise to promote the ideals of the institution in line with the title.

AMASA Firdaus, a Muslim faithful who graduated from Nigerian Law School (NLS) and was refused her call to bar for failing to remove her hijab, has said her defiance was to challenge the status quo.

Firdaus, made her stance known in a chat with Premium Times.

She described the actions of the Nigerian law school as "a violation of her rights".

She is a graduate of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

She has since been cautioned by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria not to speak on the controversial issue again.

She also said having studied law for years there was no where the law prevented female Muslim lawyers from wearing hijabs.

Asked what motivated her to take the decision, she explained that she wanted to change the narrative and give Muslim sisters the rights to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution.

“My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony).

“My demand is that Hijab should be approved.”

“They just call it convention that the British gave to us and we have to stick to it. I used them. They complained (during) my first (law) dinner. That is how they do on the campus. You don’t wear hijab for dinner but I did. I chose Abuja because I knew they were a little lenient," she reportedly said.

Asked why she did not wait to be called to bar before embarking on the campaign, she said those who removed their hijabs in the past did nothing to change the situation.

“People have been removing their hijab over the years. What have those people who have removed it done?”

She thanked the Muslim community saying their support for her demand has been impressive.

Already, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria has said it would write the presidency over Firdaus’ inability to attend the call to bar ceremony.

The national leader of the MSSN, Jameel Muhammad, described the restriction on the use of hijab as “Islamophobia.”

He said if the issue was not resolved by the presidency and national assembly, the society would resort to legal action.

“Then we might have to approach the court of the law. Already our lawyers have taken her brief,” he said.

However, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, AB Mahmoud, said the controversy surrounding Firdaus’ use of hijab was needless.

Mahmoud posted a picture of his daughter in hijab on the day she was called to the New York bar.

He said the issue would be addressed.

The incident, took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Friday.

The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with Nigerians divided on her decision and that of the authorities of the law school.

While some are in support of her decision in respect of constitutional right to freedom of religion, others condemn her action, insisting that law school is no respecter of religion, therefore laws should be obeyed.

Bari22:
If going naked is your right, please understand that covering is the right of a Muslim woman.

Fact

FEMI Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a disaster since he started leading the country.

FFK, as he is fondly called, who was the former Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, called on the president to resign, saying that is the only birthday gift he could give to Nigerians.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chieftain made the call on his verified twitter handle, @realFFK.

”I congratulate @MBuhari on his 75th birthday even though I disagree with him on virtually everything and I deplore his agenda and ways. I believe that he has been a disaster as Pres. and that the best birthday gift he can give the Nigerian people is his resignation letter,” the tweet read.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been advised by Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, not to seek re-election in the 2019 presidential election.

The governor conveyed his advise to the president in a congratulatory message to Mr. Buhari on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

Fayose in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said “the President had served the nation as far as he could with his advance age.”

Fayose also noted that it would be honourable for the President to quit the stage when the ovation is loudest.

“This is to congratulate Mr President as he clocks 75. I want to thank God for his life and pray for good health in the service of our nation and that he continues to age with grace. I wish him the best. He represents us all and we owe him prayers and cooperation where necessary, just as we also need to criticise him too where necessary,” he added.

RESIDENTS of Anambra State on Saturday defied an election boycott order from the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, to decide through the poll who governs them in the next four years.

Already, the contest has set a record of being the governorship election with the highest number of candidates (37) in Nigeria’s electoral history.

The incumbent governor, Willie Obiano is among the contenders, he is seeking to be re-elected for second term

IPOB in the build up of the election had threatened the resident not to vote else they will die.

Today’s polls with over 2.1 million registered voters, has seen some polling units with fetish charms spotted at the entrance of the voting venues. This is believed to be the handi-work of IPOB, giving their recent threat of “vote and die.”

One of such places is – Ilogwu Orie Nkpor Polling Unit – where pictures of charms placed at the entrance has gone viral on the internet.

At Aguleri, Premium Times reports that voting has commenced at otuocha ward 1 Aguleri, polling unit 005.

In Ihiala LGA, Ward 001 003, has started accreditation fully.

In some pulling units, it has been observed that some card readers are not functioning, but the voters are allowed to carry out their franchise provided they have their voters card.

As at press time, the state governor, Willie Obiano at about 9:47am has casted his vote at eri primary sch 004 otuocha 1.

Also, the UPP candidate, Osita Chidoka has voted at about 10:15am at his polling unit at Central School Obosi.

HEADLINE, has gathered that accreditation and voting is ongoing at some polling units despite low turn out recorded in some areas.

It also gathered that there is money inducement going on across some polling units in Ihiala, with the APC promising to pay N2500 per vote while APGA is paying N2000.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been described as the life patron of corruption in the country.

This description is coming from the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Peter Fayose.

President Buhari had on Thursday, in Abuja, during the presentation of the book, “Making Steady Sustainable Progress” said that any public official caught will go to jail.

Reacting, the governor advised the president to stop being hypocritical about his fight against corruption and rid his government of corrupt elements first.

“We have a President who is the Life Patron of Corruption in Nigeria. His government is not only corrupt, the government itself is corruption! Sadly, our President is still carrying on with the mindset that Nigerians are still listening to his lyrics of ‘we are fighting corruption,” Fayose said through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

The governor stressed that President Buhari was only hiding under anti-corruption fight to harass his perceived political foes.

“Today, it is seventeen days since President Buhari sacked the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, has any of them been arrested by the EFCC?

“Apart from sacking Oke, has President Buhari told Nigerians any other thing about the $43 million discovered in the Osbourne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos apartment? Who owns the apartment?

“What has happened to those involved in the fraudulent reinstatement of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr Abdullahi Maina, who was declared wanted for corrupt practices by the International Police Organisation, (INTERPOL) after he was dismissed from office by the Civil Service Commission in 2013 for allegedly committing N2.1 Billion pension fraud while in office?

“Why hasn’t Maina been arrested by the EFCC up till now?

“When the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu’s alleged that the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Dr. Maikanti Baru awarded $25 billion contracts without following due process against and weren’t Buhari’s men the ones defending Baru?

“Isn’t the same Abba Kyari, who was accused of collecting N500 million bribe from MTN still Buhari’s Chief of Staff? Has anything been heard about the $5 billion fine imposed on MTN by the federal government after Abba Kyari allegedly received the N500 million bribe?

“Methinks President Buhari should face the reality that there are people in his government that should be in jail by now for corruption. Not until he jails those corrupt elements that are wining and dining with him, Nigerians will continue to liken his threat to jail anyone who steals pubic fund with a cow thief threatening to jail a fowl thief,” he said.

Lalasticlala

THE security aide of governor Willie Obiano has been restored.

Obiano had raised an alarm that his life was in danger following the withdrawal of his security details.

However, the Police has said it was only the aid-de-camp attached to the governor that was withdrawn and not his security details as errorneously peddled.

It said the governor’s aide was withdrawn because of past experiences where such cops worked for their principals.

Already, the police boss was earlier today ordered by the senate to restore the governor’s security aide.

Similarly an order from President Muhammadu Buhari to the same effect has seen Obiano’s aide resumed, HEADLINE gathered.

Buhari who was in Akwa, capital of Anambra state, in continuation of his two-day visit to some states in South East, called for massive support to Mr Tony Nwoye, APC’s governorship candidate.

Buhari was accompanied by 12 APC governors who converged at Dr Alex Ekwueme’s Square, Awka via Nigeria Force aircraft mark NAF-540 at about 1.20 pm and departed about 4.25pm.

THE Inspector General of Police has been ordered to restore the security aide of Anambra governor, Willie Obiano, by the Nigerian Senate.

Obiano had raised an alarm that his life was in danger following the withdrawal of his security details.

However, the Police has said it was only the aid-de-camp attached to the governor that was withdrawn and not his security details as errorneously peddled.

It said the governor’s aide was withdrawn because of past experiences where such cops worked for their principals.

The Senate’s directive was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha during plenary in Abuja.

Bwacha described the withdrawal of the governor’s aide as unjust.

“As a senator, I know that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. If we don’t arrest the matter the President may be made hostage unknown to him.

“If we allow such cabal to grow and are not tamed, the Federal Government may be brought down to its knees.”

He said as members of parliament they had a duty to ensure that “What happened in Anambra did not happen anywhere again.

“Candidates should be allowed level playing ground but nobody should do a thing as crude and shrewd as what happened in Anambra. This was wrong.

“I will make attempt to try and reach the President that some of his aides are been over zealous in discharging their constitutional duties; this is not good and it is uncalled for.”

The Upper Chamber also directed the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim to ensure that the order was carried out and report back to the Senate on Thursday, Nov. 16.

ELDERS and leaders of the Niger Delta region has secured an extention of three (3) months ceasefire from Niger Delta Avengers to enable the federal government prove that it is sincere about its commitment to the region.

The militant group has been claiming responsibility for attacks on oil installations in the region last year.

Last week, the group said it would resume hostilities any moment from then, adding that the Buhari’s administration has not been sincere with its peace talks and promises for the Niger Delta.

Intervening, the Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC) said it had interfaced with the agitators and successfully secured a commitment from the NDA to extend its ceasefire for another three months.

“We have been concerned because the Niger Delta problem is a Nigerian problem. When the Niger Delta is in crisis, Nigeria is in crisis. If we don’t handle it well, it can consume the entire country the same way the leadership of the northern Nigeria, particularly those of the North-East, did not come out to handle the Boko Haram problem, which has now gone international.

“That is why we as leaders of the Niger Delta area came together to say we must stop this.

“This last threat did not come from criminals, it came from some of them that I hold in very high esteem, and in the last three days, we have been working day and night; myself, Elder T.K Ogoriba and a few others, to see that we discourage bombing.

“We have just secured a three-month extension of ceasefire to enable government prove its sincerity for the last time. But if they fail us this time around, someone like me will pull out; I will no longer be involved in this peace process.

“The boys have said now that we’ve prevailed on them, they will listen again. I can assure you that you will not see bombing or destruction of pipelines and facilities because we have secured extra three months of ceasefire,” National Coordinator of PNDPC, High Chief Mike Loyibo said in a chat with TheNation Newspaper.

Also, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) said it had not rested on its oars in its efforts to bring lasting peace, stability and development to the region.

“The most important thing is that, just like we accessed them before and they kept to their words and gave PANDEF their mandate to go on to dialogue on their behalf, PANDEF will continue to access them.

“Avengers are not spirits; they are human beings and indigenes of the Niger Delta. So, if anybody says PANDEF does not know how to access them, that can’t be true.

“Efforts are being made. PANDEF is not resting on its oars. It is living up to the expectations of Niger Delta people by ensuring that there’s permanent and sustainable peace and to fast-track development in the region, based on equity and justice.

“As a follow up to all I’ve said, PANDEF is hosting an extraordinary general assembly, particularly to address this security situation. The meeting is coming up on Friday 17th of this month at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta State.

“The meeting is very important because people need to come together to articulate views and find ways of trying to see how this whole matter can be resolved.

“This is to tell you about the importance PANDEF attaches to peace in the region,” the Coordinator of PANDEF’s secretariat, who is also a member of its Central Working Committee (CWC), Dr Alfred Mulade, told the newspaper.

As at press time, when Headline visited the website of the Avengers, nothing about this new development was seen there even though the militant group had used the medium to announce the expiration of its ceasefire on oil installations across the region.

lalasticlala

ABDULLAHI Candido, chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress has told Nigerians from the south-eastern region of the country to forget the much talked about Igbo presidency in 2023 if they fail to elect President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.

Candido explained that it was best for the Igbo to join President Buhari that just has four years after the first tenure, so that they can get their turn rather than voting another person in another party that will do eight years and delay the Igbo in stepping into the Villa.

He gave the advise today at the inauguration of the South-East APC Forum held at the APC State Secretariat, Abuja.

The South-East region is predominantly dominated by Igbos, one of the major ethnic tribe in the country.

Since after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in 1967-1970, the region has not produced a civilian president, hence the clamour for Igbo Presidency.

“Don’t vote the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), even if they present a Northern candidate because such a president will spend eight years from 2019 before the Igbo can get it; if you don’t vote Buhari, don’t blame anybody, any other Northern president in 2019 will not come, except Buhari,” he said while insisting that Igbo’s indecisiveness had been their bane in politics and advised them to make up their minds to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) and get the benefits therein.

“Please support President Buhari, we have enough cake to go round. When Buhari finishes his second tenure, Igbos will get it on equity. They will be the greatest beneficiaries of his second term if they support him,” he stated.

lalasticlala, mynd44

THE Suspension of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno-APC) has been nullified.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, today, presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadri, nullified his suspension and ordered his reinstatement.

Bukola Saraki, president of the senate was ordered to ensure prompt payment of Ndume’s salaries and allowances while he was suspended.

Ndume had asked for investigation of allegations of importing a bullet proof range rover with fake documents involving Senate President Bukola Saraki and that of perjury involving Senator Dino Melaye.

The Senate reached the decision after the resolution to uphold the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges chaired by Samuel Anyanwu.

He was suspended for six months, instead of one year originally recommended by the ethics committee.

Mr. Anyanwu, whose committee convened investigative hearing on the two matters reported that Mr. Ndume failed to conduct proper investigation before making “the allegations”.