₦airaland Forum

Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State governor, is said to have been denied visa to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Mr Buhari, accompanied by some state governors and federal government officials to the United States, left the country on Sunday for the gathering which had world leaders in attendance.

Tweeting on Friday, Shehu Sani, a former federal parliamentarian, said the Kaduna governor when denied visa to the international event resorted to acting his own play. Although no name was mentioned, he was referring to El-rufai, TODAY POLITICS learnt.

“When the Body Bag Governor was denied Visa for UNGA,he resorted to local drama…take heart go to Dubai those ones no dey deny,” the former lawmaker said.

The local drama the former lawmaker is referring to might not be unconnected to the recent display of El-rufai enrolling his son in one of the public schools in the state.

While critics described the show as geared towards his political ambition of succeeding the president in office in the next general election, his supporters hailed him saying he has kept one of his campaign promises.

Backstory

The governor, during the build up to the last general election, had promised to return foreign observers back to their respective countries in body bags should they interfere during the exercise.

Some Nigerians who are apparently his critics took it upon themselves to nickname him body bag governor.

After the election, it was reported that some prominent Nigerian politicians, whose actions, utterances among others undermined the exercise, has been banned from visiting the United States.

While no name was mentioned, it was widely speculated that the Kaduna governor was among those banned. He has also not visited the country since after the last general election.

Source: https://todaypoliticsng.com/how-gov-el-rufai-reacted-when-denied-visa-for-unga-shehu-sani/

The cabal is really giving the SW sleepless nights.

It's either the SE are allowed to have their own share or the North continues ruling, short and simple.

lalasticlala

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has described those surprised at the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore, as being gullible.

Mr Sowore, who publishes Sahara Reporters, has been in detention early last month for planning a revolutionary protest which the federal government described as an attempted coup.

Despite his absence on the d-day, supporters of the former presidential candidate managed to stage the protest amidst intimidation by security agencies.

The publisher is been charged for treason, fraud and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

A Federal High Court has ordered his release but the Department of State Services (DSS) detaining him has refused to adhere to the directive, claiming due process has not been followed.

Describing those who are surprised at the continued detention as gullible, the former minister said it was nothing new since the present administration took over power.

“What amazes me is the utter gullibility of some of our people. Why would you be surprised that @YeleSowore is still in detention? Mr Fani-Kayode queried Friday morning.

ALSO READ: Sowore won't be released until due process is followed - DSS

“Has @MBuhari ever obeyed court orders? They did it to those of us in the mainstream opposition over the last 4 years and you applauded them, Now they are doing it to others and u are lamenting and expressing surprise and disappointment.

“You never thought it would affect u but now it has.Well this is just the beginning. You must live with the new reality which is that we are living in a vicious dictatorship which will not spare anyone it feels threatened by.

“I and a number of others warned that this would happen in 2015 if Buhari came to power and you laughed us to scorn and insulted us. You fought for @MBuhari, you rejected @GEJonathan and you put him in power.

*Thankfully it appears that you are not laughing anymore but now you must live with the consequences of your actions. Now you must live with the monster and tyrant you assisted in putting on the throne and the mess you helped to create.

“Even if @YeleSowore is released later today or tomorrow they have made their point: that they can do anything they want, to anybody, for any reason and at anytime. May God deliver us from these wicked souls and I urge every Nigerian to pray for Yele, Sambo Dasuki and others,” he added in series of tweets.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/those-surprised-at-sowores-continued-detention-are-gullible-fani-kayode/amp/

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State, has barred his political appointees from criticising President Muhammadu Buhari or any other state governor in the country.

Mr Umahi handed down the order Thursday, in a statement by Francis Nwaze, his special assistant on new media.

The governor said he gave the directive because criticising the president and state governors will add no value to his administration in the state.

Since he began his second term in May, the governor has fired some of his aides largely due to misrepresentations.

“The Ebonyi State Governor, David Nweze Umahi, has prohibited any of his political appointees from castigating or abusing the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari,” Mr Nwaze quoted his principal as directing.

“Doing such to any government or any governor in this country has no value to add to his administration.

“The Governor has advised that anyone who wishes to throw an unnecessary stone against any of the above-mentioned leaders, should, in his or her own best interest, get ready to leave his government as such will attract immediate sacking.

“Any posting, henceforth, against the President, any governor or government from any of his appointees will attract immediate termination of appointment by him.

“If you want to castigate the President, his government or any governor, you must leave Governor Umahi’s government first. How does such castigation help the governor’s government?” he queried.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/why-i-barred-my-aides-from-criticising-buhari-other-state-governors-gov-umahi/amp/

lalasticlala

The Department of State Service (DSS) has said it won’t release Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, until due process is followed.

The DSS stated this in response to why it has refused to release the former presidential candidate despite the latter meeting bail conditions granted him by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The publisher being detained by the security agency is accused of treason, fraud and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari. The federal government has slammed a seven count charge to that effect on him.

He was arrested earlier last month for spearheading a revolutionary protest that went on despite his absence. The publisher was granted bail after the DSS declined renewing an order seeking his continued detention after an earlier 45-day detention mandate it secured elapsed on September 21.

Sowore was asked to deposit his international passport with the court registry, a condition his legal representative said has been met.

Despite reportedly meeting the bail condition, the DSS has said the publisher will continue in detention until due process was followed.

ALSO READ: N90bn election fund: Osinbajo ready to waive immunity for probe, sues two

“We have not received the court order. And his (Sowore’s) counsel is a very senior member of the bar and he knows the process to follow; this process has not been followed,” Punch Newspaper quoted the spokesman of the agency, Peter Afunanya, as saying when contacted.

Responding, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) whose chamber is representing Sowore said the DSS was economical with the truth as one Ayuba Adam from the agency’s Legal Service Department received the said court order on September 25, 2019 at exactly 10:08am.

Source: https://todaypoliticsng.com/sowore-wont-be-released-until-due-process-is-followed-dss/

lalasticlala

Heads of security agencies in the country on Friday shunned an invitation extended to them by the leadership of the House of Representatives.

The lower legislative chamber has summoned the service chiefs to a meeting bordering on national security.

While lawmakers were already seated waiting for their guests to arrive, TODAY POLITICS gathered that some of them failed to honour the invitation.

The gathering had in attendance; Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the DG of the DSS, Yusuf Bichi; and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Services, Muhammad Babandede.

This has angered the speaker of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila, who condemned the action saying he will take the issue to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Speaker @femigbaja has condemned the Service Chiefs for shunning the @HouseNGR invitation to discuss National Security issues,” a tweet on the official Twitter handle of the top lawmaker said.

“He described their actions as an insult to the Parliament and promised to take the development to President @MBuhari,” it added.

Meanwhile, Mr Gbajabiamila has apologised to those who honoured the invitation and rescheduled it to hold on Monday.

This is not the first time the legislature is displeased by the action of agencies under the executive arm of government.

Under the immediate past National Assembly, led by former President of the 8th Senate, Bokula Saraki, government appointees took advantage of the rift between executive and the legislature at the time to disobey the latter.

Such scenario is no longer existing since the APC took over the affairs of the two arms of government after the general election this year.

This medium, as at press time, could not independently ascertain why the security chiefs shunned the green chamber despite meeting the president recently.

Source: https://todaypoliticsng.com/service-chiefs-shun-reps-as-speaker-runs-to-buhari-for-help/

The opposing All Progressive Congress APC in Akwa Ibom State has consoled its supporters not to lose hope in the party as it will bounce back in no distant time.

The opposition party stated this after losing at the State Governorship Election Tribunal, Thursday.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition of Nsima Ekere and the APC for lacking in merit while upholding the election of governor Udom Emmanuel, as duly elected.

“I implore our teeming supporters not to give up hope on the party but to remain faithful and steadfast trusting that we shall deploy every available judicial process to attain our quest to entrench good governance in our beloved State of Akwa Ibom,” the state chairman of APC, Ini Okopido, said in a statement issued shortly after the ruling.

Mr Okopido said as a law-abiding party with confidence and trust in the judiciary, the APC has, therefore, “taken the ruling with equanimity”.

The opposition party said its next move regarding the judgement will be determined after legal evaluation and advise by their legal counsels.

Read More: https://todaypoliticsng.com/dont-lose-hope-well-bounce-back-apc-consoles-supporters-in-akwa-ibom/

lalasticlala

A suspected serial killer, alleged to have killed a lady in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has been apprehended.

There has been recent spike in dead of young women in hotels around the oil-rich state.

Most of the victims found dead had their hands and legs tied together, leading to circumstances believed to be hallmark of serial killing.

However, one of the serial killer ran out of luck when he was napped while heading to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital from the Rivers.

Gracious West was arrested along East-West road while fleeing from the state to its neighboring counterpart.

Mr West who was interrogated by Mustapha Dandaura, Rivers Police Commissioner, narrated how he trapped his victim.

“We were inside the club then we discussed on how much I will pay her. After that we left the club to the hotel at Osas Road,” Mr West, 26, said in a one minute thirty seconds video shared publicly by the Police on its Twitter handle.

“When we got there, they took her up and I said let me look for a way to arrange for food that we will both eat,” he added even as he could not remember the hotel’s name but said it’s located around Rumuola where a lady was reportedly killed on Sunday.

“After eating, we slept till the next morning around 5:30am. I brought out a knife. She was unaware there was a knife. So, I told her not to shout that if she does I will use the knife on her.

“Out of fear she kept quite. During that time the television volume was loud. Then I used the wrapper to tie her hands her legs from the back,” and when asked which wrapper, West answered, “I used pillow case.”

The police command is expected to address the public on Friday.

Read More: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/how-i-trapped-her-suspected-rivers-serial-killer-narrates/amp/

lalasticlala

The Nigerian Senate has stated why its members deserve brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

Public outcry recently greeted a planned purchase of brand new SUVs for Senators which will amount to about N5.5billion.

Reacting to the condemnation, the leader of the Nigerian Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi, said it is an insult to opined that lawmakers at the upper legislative chamber do not deserve brand new SUVs.

Mr Abdullahi said they deserve the automobile because the duties of lawmakers are much more than that of ministers whom he assumed are getting similar benefits.

“What is the problem there? It is an insult to say that a senator of the Federal Republic cannot ride a jeep in Nigeria. It is an insult,” the Senate leader told reporters in his office Wednesday.

“The N5.5 billion is from the National Assembly fund and it is budgeted for every year, which they will pay back at the end of their tenure.

“I was a permanent secretary. I know what ministers get. We cannot even compare ourselves with ministers because we are higher than a minister.

“For you to say that a senator of the Federal Republic cannot drive a jeep today, come on, that is an insult.

“Go and tell the people that the work that we do is more than the work of ministers. The weight that is on me today, there is no minister of the Federal Republic that has it,” he added.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/why-our-members-deserve-brand-new-suvs-senate/amp/

lalasticlala

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has been rendered impotent, useless and irrelevant.

The South-West group stated this in reaction to the recent travails of Mr Osinbajo whose principal is said to have whittled down his powers by removing him as head of government agencies he held during their first term in office.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that agencies and aides under the control of the number two citizen has been withdrawn from him and assigned to ministries and individuals.

At the moment, it is still been speculated in some quarters that it might be a move to keep him in check since Osinbajo is aiming at succeeding his principal in office at the next presidential election, an ambition those said to be the cabal of President Muhammadu Buhari is against.

Reacting to the travails, Afenifere said although it will be early to arrive at that conclusion, recent developments in the presidency has rendered Osinbajo impotent, useless and irrelevant.

“We are studying the situation but we must also not muddle up issues. For now we will not jump into any premature conclusion that this is about 2023 alone. We will need to know if we will need more information to know whether it is political or whether there was abuse of office or process,” Yinka Odumakin, spokesman other group told Punch Newspaper yesterday.

ALSO READ: After rejecting her resignation, Buhari removes Head of Service, appoints replacement

“But the barrage of the last 48 hours shows that there is something wrong. We will wait to have all the facts because we don’t want to say a Yoruba man is being attacked.

“They may have had a justifiable reason to do so. But we are taking note of every development and at the appropriate time, we will make our position known. But clearly, what has happened is that the VP’s office has been rendered impotent, useless and irrelevant,” Mr Odumakin added.

For the news medium, the situation is caused by some action of the number two citizen when he held sway for his principal in acting capacity during their first term in office.

Relying on anonymous presidential sources, the paper cited the emergence of Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of the Federation and the removal of Lawal Daura as the Director-General of the Department of State Services as reasons for the development.

ALSO READ: Sorry for any party that fails to field a Northerner for 2023 presidency - Arewa Youths

Mr Onnoghen, appointed by the president in acting capacity, had his tenure running out and might not be constitutionally allowed to serve as substantive CJN at the expiration. Osinbajo who was in charge at the time forwarded his name for confirmation to the Nigerian Senate, against the wish of the cabal.

Mr Daura was removed in office for been allegedly responsible for the siege laid at the National Assembly in a bid to force a leadership change at the legislative arm of government last year.

The actions of Osinbajo on the two scenarios are reported to be against the wish of the cabal whom the vice president was said to have sidelined at the time.

While Buhari suspended and ousted Mr Onnoghen on alleged failure to declare some assets traced to him, the president on his return last year September sacked Matthew Seiyefa who was appointed in August by his vice while in acting capacity, to head the DSS.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/buhari-has-rendered-osinbajo-impotent-useless-irrelevant-afenifere/amp/

famouscargo4u:
The point is that even the igbos don't support themselves. you would recall that the revered Odumegwu Ojukwu contested election in 2003 and 2007 but the igbos voted for Obasanjo and Yar'adua instead. The south west can support the Igbos to emerge as flag bearer BUT the Easterners won't support themselves. so, it is what it is at the moment. I swear, with the trajectory of things, the north is already scheming for a northern Buhari successor and knowing that the south is not united, they will have their way. The north is not more populous than the south as they always make people to believe. A united south would defeat the north any day!

So how about Sowore that contested against Buhari, why didn't SW vote for him abi voting for Buhari in place of Sowore means supporting yourselves?



Until the SE produce elected president, the SW will never smell that seat again.

texazzpete:
I find this distinction quite funny indeed, as if the only Mugus are the South westerners. Same way they’ve been using the South East, tbh.

Should PDP gets back power, the SE stand a chance to produce the next president after the North.

You think you are wiser than those red mud region?

I see 2023 presidency as a war between SW and SE bro.

Left for me, since the South-West which has tested presidency has refused to back down for South-East, then the North should continue ruling till eternity, that way it will dawn on them why the entire South should unite.

I smell PDP going back to power in 2023.

Left for me, since the South-West which has tested presidency has refused to back down for South-East, then the North should continue ruling till eternity, that way it will dawn on them why the entire South should unite.

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has said any political party that fails to field a Northerner as its presidential candidate for the next presidential election should have itself to blame.

There are speculations in some quarters that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) might fizzle out of power should it fail to allow a Northerner as a presidential candidate in 2023.

When the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held sway from 1999 to 2015, the party used to rotate where to choose its presidential candidates, mainly from the two protectorates in the country.

When the ruling party was formed in 2013, the issue of zoning presidential tickets was not one of the issues tackled by the merger parties involved in the formation. It is on this note that some persons considered influential in the Northern part of the country are insisting that the party either field their son or loose power to any other opposing party willing to do so.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, began his second term in May and will step down in 2023. Some leaders of his party are insisting power must shift to the South.

Yerima Shettima, the National President of AYCF, while speaking with Sun Newspaper said nobody or group has the constitutional right to prevent the region from fielding candidate in 2023.

Mr Shettima, who said the people of the zone would make use of its numerical strength to determine the outcome of the election, advised any political party that refuses to zone its presidential ticket to the North should blame itself.

“The beauty of democracy is the rule of law and the Nigerian Constitution does not restrict any area or region from having a candidate in a general election,” he said.

“Any political party that fails to field a candidate from the North would blame itself after the election because the North would use their numerical strength to determine the outcome democratically,” Shettima added.

Although no one from the South has publicly declared interest for the office, political scenario suggests bigwigs of the APC from the region are warming up to succeed the president.

Speculations has it that Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the ruling party and incumbent vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, are eyeing the seat of power.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/sorry-for-any-party-that-fails-to-field-a-northerner-for-2023-presidency-arewa-youths/amp/

lalasticlala

By David Hero -September 14, 2019

After claiming he was not perturbed about events at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), President Muhammadu Buhari has narrated how God saved him from been traumatised during the day the tribunal delivered its judgement.

The election that ushered in the president for another term of four years was challenged at the PEPT by his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Abubakar in presenting his case, urged the tribunal to proclaim him and his party as winners of the February 23 exercise. His plea was dismissed for failing to show cause why such should be done.

Reacting to his victory at the tribunal, the president said he was not disturbed with events that trailed his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But backtracking from his earlier claim, Mr Buhari has said it was actually God who saved him from being traumatised by allowing the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in his second term to coincide with the judgement day.

ALSO READ: How many PDP govs secretly meet with Buhari - Wike

He said discussions at the gathering got hold of his attention from concentrating at the tribunal ruling.

“On this judgement, again it was a fabulous coincidence that it came almost the same time the first Federal Executive Council meeting of this government was taking place,” the president said on Friday while playing host to state governors from the APC, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

“It lasted about the same time with the judgement. I thank God for that because I think would have gone into trauma or something. So I was busy trying to concentrate on the memo.

“The first memo was on the budget and it took more than five hours. So, while you were doing your thing for nine hours, we were doing ours for about seven hours here.

“It is a very interesting coincidence and I thank God for it because I would have been in trauma or something of that sort. So thank you very much for sharing the glory with us.

“What I will say to your congratulations, the chairman of the party and the governors is that we must make sure that we really institutionalized the party, so that when we leave the stage the party will continue to lead,” Buhari added.

ALSO READ: You're smoking weed - Atiku's aide replies Lai Mohammed seeking apology

The PDP candidate is yet to react to the tribunal judgement, despite the willingness of his legal counsel and the opposition party in seeking redress at the Supreme Court.

Source: https://todaypoliticsng.com/how-god-saved-me-from-tribunal-trauma-buhari/

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has broken his silence since he lost out at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

The passing away of Professor Chukuka Okonjo, the father of a former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, today, led to the disruption but the former vice president popularly known as Atiku has continued to keep mum on his next line of action regarding the tribunal judgement he lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Messrs Buhari and Atiku contested this year’s presidential election with the former trouncing the latter to secure another term of four years.

Dismissing his petition, the PEPT, said the opposition candidate and his party failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt why they should be declared winner of the February 23 race.

While Buhari has reacted to his victory at the tribunal, dedicating it to God and Nigerians, the former vice president has chosen to be silent, although his legal team have expressed willingness to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court which is the apex court in the land.

“Obi Prof Chukuka Okonjo, immediate past Obi of Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, was a man of many parts,” Atiku tweeted Friday afternoon.

“He left behind indelible footprints. On behalf of my family, I condole with Dr (Mrs) @NOIweala on the loss of her dear father. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.

Professor Okonjo is said to have died at 91.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/todaypoliticsng.com/atiku-mourns-iwealas-father-maintains-silence-on-tribunal-judgement/amp/

lalasticlala