The ruling All Progres­sives Congress (APC) may summon an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to find a solution to the protracted political crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the party ahead of the gov­ernorship primaries slated for June 22.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent on Monday, a mem­ber of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The meet­ing has become imperative as the presidency appears to be in a quandary over the issue”.

The Edo chapter of the APC and the national leader­ship of the party are current­ly locked in a battle on the mode of primary to be used in choosing the flagbearer of the party.

While Edo APC led by An­selm Ojezua said it is adopt­ing the indirect primary method for the emergence of the party’s flagbearer in the September 19, 2020 governor­ship election in the state, the NWC led by Adams Oshiom­hole had written to the Inde­pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 19, saying it has adopted the direct primary option.

Despite interventions by President Muhammadu Bu­hari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s National Leader and governors elected on the party’s platform last week, the stakeholders are still spoiling for battle while no agreement has been reached on the mode of primaries to be adopted.

According to our source, “The Edo APC is calling for indirect primary while the NWC has adopted direct method. But Abuja (presiden­cy) is interested in a system of primary that will main­tain social distancing so that COVID-19 will not spread as a result of the primaries.

“What a lot of people do not know is that the system that can maintain social dis­tancing is the direct primary method. This is because un­der direct primary method, people will be required to vote in their various wards.

“In most cases, direct elec­tions are done in public plac­es maybe schools. The voters will be asked to queue up and maintain physical distancing from one another.

“Under the indirect pri­mary method, you are going to make use of delegates. Over 50,000 of them will be required to gather in one place and the COVID-19 pro­tocol said more than 50 peo­ple must gather together in one place.

“So, right now, Abuja is in a quandary and it is likely a NEC meeting will be sum­moned on the matter. But contrary to the impression that it is indirect primary method that will encourage social distancing, it is actu­ally the direct method”, he said.

Also on Monday, the Edo State government said it has alerted the Commissioner of Police in the state and other security agencies of plans by loyalists of Comrade Ad­ams Oshiomhole and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a gover­norship aspirant in APC, to import thugs from the Ni­ger-Delta into the state.

Speaking with Daily In­dependent, Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strat­egy, said those behind the move are planning to cause mayhem in the state so as to make it difficult for the state government to enforce the guidelines on COVID-19.

According to him, Gover­nor Obaseki is putting every necessary measures in place in order to ensure that the primary exercise and the gov­ernorship election is peaceful and violence-free.

“We have received a lot of intelligence that Ize-Iyamu and other people who are representing Adams Osh­iomhole in Edo State are procuring arms and ammu­nitions, and they are import­ing thugs from parts of the Niger-Delta with the view to cause mayhem in Edo State and make it impossible for the government to enforce the regulations on the move­ment of people with respect to the spread of COVID-19.

“I’m sure you are aware that the state government has made a law that prevents political gatherings that can endanger the lives of people with respect to the spread of coronavirus. On their part, they feel that law will prevent them from having their way in the primaries on June 22.

“To that extent, they have now gone to states within the Niger-Delta, especially from Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa to import thugs and bring them to different locations within the state, with arms and ammunitions in order to un­leash mayhem on the state. Their primary mission is to make impossible for the state to enforce that law”.

Save APC From Oshiomhole’s Impunity, Jibrin Tells Buhari, Tinubu

Meanwhile, Captain Mo­hammad Bala Jibrin (rtd.), a former Deputy National Auditor of the ruling All Pro­gressives Congress (APC), has called on President Mu­hammadu Buhari and Sen­ator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s National Leader, to take decisive steps to save APC from imminent collapse and curb the alleged rampart impunity and excesses of Comrade Adams Oshiom­hole, the party’s “divisive national chairman”.

Jibrin, who was also Na­tional Auditor of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of APC’s legacy parties, said this week­end, warning that the party is at the threshold of yet an­other misadventure in Edo State.

Recall that Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is seeking sec­ond term as governor, have been at the opposite ends of the stick as the battle for gov­ernor of Edo State rages.

Capt. Jibrin, in a state­ment, also charged Tinubu and other well-meaning leaders of the party to speak up against the alleged serial abuse of the APC constitu­tion by the party’s national chairman before it is too late.

The APC chieftain said he is alarmed that Buhari who he said stood and fought against impunity and manip­ulation of the electoral pro­cess since the return to civil rule would now turn blind eye as his national chairman perpetuates impunity and manipulation.

“We have followed Presi­dent Buhari’s political career since 2003, and the biggest he confronted and fought was impunity, manipulation of elections and rigging and injustice. President Buhari himself was a victim of all these.

“Now, here we are, Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of his party, is engaged in not only abuse of office but is trampling on the APC constitution simply to perpetuate impunity and in­justice just because he holds the office of national chair­man”, he said.

Citing several instances of abuse of the APC statutes, Jibrin said that Oshiomhole has usurped the powers of the NEC of the party by de­ciding the mode of primary election for Edo, all in a deter­mined effort to manipulate outcome of the governorship primary. He cited instances of rape of the APC constitu­tion.

“We provide some in­stances. The APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) not the National Working Committee (NWC) has the final say on the mode of the primary election. Article 20 (IV) – Procedure for Nomina­tion of Candidates (E) states: “Without prejudice to Article 20(u) and (iii) of this consti­tution, the National Working Committee shall subject to the approval of the National Executive Committee make rules and regulations for the nomination of candidates through primary elections.

“This shows that the pow­ers to determine the mode/ type of election to be used for the nomination of can­didates rests with NEC and not NWC, or at least must get the approval of NEC. So, the truth is that Edo State APC chapter was correct to say that only the NEC has the final say on the matter and not the NWC.

“We would recall that on August 29, 2018, the APC’s NEC delegated this func­tion to NWC and the state chapters of the party only for the purpose of Osun and Ekiti primary elections and not in perpetuity. Its resolu­tion on this was: ‘That the State Executive Committee (SEC) shall in consultation with critical stakeholders in each state identify and agree among themselves the mode of the primary election to be applied in their state’.

“Therefore, when we take the constitutional provision, and the decision of NEC to­gether, it is evident that the NWC has no power whatso­ever on these matters until they go back to NEC. Howev­er, both were flagrantly disre­garded and disobeyed by the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole”.

Capt. Bala Jibrin, who as­pired for the party’s guberna­torial ticket in Bauchi State in 2018, said Oshiomhole must not be allowed to ma­nipulate the outcome of Edo APC governorship primary, ascribing sinister motive be­hind the letter Oshiomhole wrote to INEC three days before the NWC met.

“In his bid to continue with illegalities and acts of impunity, which he perpe­trated on a large scale during the November 2018 APC pri­mary elections, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiom­hole, without conscience and sense of fairness and justice wrote a letter to the Indepen­dent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) that the APC had decided to adopt direct primary for Edo State APC governorship.

“He did this three days ahead of the meeting of NWC that was supposed to decide on the matter. Under normal circumstance, this immoral action is enough to remove him from office because it is not just an infraction but a desecration of anything just and fair. The NWC members are also culpable on that”, he noted.

He, therefore, called for emergency National Execu­tive Council (NEC) meeting of the party to address the emerging crisis in Edo and the alleged ongoing abuse of the party’s constitution by the Oshiomhole led NWC.

“It is only proper for the National Working Commit­tee (NWC) and Adams Os­hiomhole to subject them­selves to the NEC, as the only constitutional body that has the final say on the issue. This means that to ensure checks and balances and roll back the creeping impropri­eties and lawlessness of the national chairman, NEC should summon an emergen­cy meeting and thrash out the issues once and for all”.

He said a number of par­ty loyalists are beginning to wonder if its national chair­man was a mercenary.

“Unless Adams Oshiom­hole has an agenda to weak­en APC and lower its esteem before millions of Nigerians, it is inexplicable that he re­mains at the centre of all the party’s crisis that has engulfed the state chapters of the party since November 2018. From Zamfara to Ogun, from Imo to Rivers, from Bauchi, Adama­wa to now Edo, you can see his hands and his self-centered tendencies visibly.

“Rather than become a unifying factor, Adams Osh­iomhole has become the most divisive party chairman in the history of party politics in Nigeria. Because of the fla­grant violation of the party’s constitution by Adams Osh­iomhole, the APC has now be­come a shadow of its former self. Its 2013-2018 format, in which party members feel at home and have a say in the af­fairs of the party is no more.

“The APC is at risk of los­ing its core if it has not lost it already. Because of Adams Oshiomhole’s ways, the APC is now at the crossroads.”

Oshiomhole’s Membership No Longer Valid— Okechukwu

Again, ahead of the forth­coming governorship prima­ries of APC in Edo and Ondo states, a chieftain of the party, Osita Okechukwu, has cau­tioned leaders of the party to be circumspect about the fragile membership status of Oshiomhole.

Okechukwu, who is the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said that in view of the yet to be dis­posed appeal court’s matter over the suspension of the APC national chairman ear­lier this year, the party must be careful allowing him to manage primaries for Edo and Ondo states.

He said, “May I once more crave the indulgence of the leaders and members of our great party – the All Progres­sives Congress (APC) – to take due caution as Comrade Ad­ams Oshiomhole is no longer a valid member of our party. This means that we must call him to order, indeed stop him forthwith before the Zamfara or Bayelsa State fiasco.

“For all his shenanigans of presiding over the affairs of our party, as a suspended member, may in the full glare of the law be adjudged null and void. For it is truism that the appeal court has not de­livered final judgment over his suspension.”

 https://www.inform.ng/post/apc-may-convene-nec-to-resolve-edo-crises

What for? If you are tired of being an American, kindly come back home. No place like home

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Monday backed the move by a social critic to sue his wife, Betty Akeredolu for alleged defamation.

The governor, while reacting to a letter being circulated on social media and addressed to his wife over a planned legal action following the First Lady’s altercation with a social critic and political commentator, Jimmy Adekanle, said that his wife does not enjoy immunity, hence the lawyer should proceed with his client’s request.

Last week, the governor’s wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu had in a social media post called the social critic who is based in Canada a rapist.

The post by the First Lady was sequel to a post made by Adekanle who is popularly known as ‘JAF’ alleging that the First Lady broke the federal government’s inter-state travel ban when she travelled to Ondo State from Imo State amid the COVID-19 pandemic.


Responding in a post, the First Lady said, “Jimmy Adekanle Jaf shut the hell up. You are still talking. Canada lresivist. This has entered in Ondo social media lexicon. I even heard that you are a sex offender and you ran away to Canada. Shame on you! Come back. Police is waiting for you. And my office is after scumbags like you. You are in real trouble. Arabinrin has no mercy for rapists like you. Jail term awaits you. FAKE HUMAN IRESIVIST… ”

While demanding a retraction and withdrawal of the alleged defamatory post within a stipulated seven-day period, the social critic’s lawyer, Tolu Babaleye said that “a profound and unreserved apology” must be tendered to his client for the psychological and social effect the post had cost him.

Stressing that the apology must be published, Babaleye stated in the letter that his client will be left with no option than to approach the court for redress if the First Lady failed to do the needful.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Governor Akeredolu in a social media post told the lawyer to go ahead with his client’s request.

The post reads, “Tolu Babaleye, please go ahead with your client’s further instructions and file the action. The First Lady does not enjoy immunity,” the governor said.
https://www.inform.ng/post/sue-my-wife-she-has-no-immunity-akeredolu-tells-lawyer

...Demands Immediate 100% Increase

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the slashing of the 2020 budgetary allocations for basic health care from N44.4 billion to N25.5b, and the Universal Basic Education (UBE) budget from N111.7 billion to N51.1 billion, by Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as the height of insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians.

The party charged President Buhari to immediately recall the budget rework the figures to reflect a 100% increase in the initial figures as a step forward towards meeting the needs of the citizens at these sub sectors.

The PDP insists that in slashing the budget for the primary health need of the people to N25.5 billion (a 42% cut) and UBE budget to N51.1 billion (a 54% cut), in a country of over 200 million people, who are already economically overburden, the APC and its administration have further exposed that they have never had the welfare of Nigerians at heart.

The party said no government, which genuinely means well for its citizens, will vote a paltry N25.5 billion for basic health care for 200 million people in 774 local governments, particularly at this time our nation is facing huge health challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while allocating a bigger sum of N27.7 billion for renovation of the National Assembly complex, which is not even in a distress state.

While the PDP has nothing against any effort to improve on the working condition of our federal legislature, placing the renovation of the National Assembly complex above health care at this critical time is a scandalous misplacement of national priority by President Buhari and APC Presiding officers.

Moreover, our party has been made aware that this development does not reflect the views of majority of the federal lawmakers.

A critical analysis of the allocations indicates that with the N25.5 billion voted for primary health care in a country of over 200 million citizens, President Buhari and the APC plan to spend only about N125 per Nigerian at the primary health care level, within the 2020 fiscal year.

In the same vein, with the N51.1 billion allocation for basic education in a country of estimated 43 million school-age children, the APC Federal Government is deeming it proper to spend only N1,186 per child at the UBE level in 2020 fiscal year.

The PDP wonders if the APC government targets to achieve more out-of-school children as well as more health need deficit in our country.

Our party therefore rejects this collusion by the APC-led Federal Executive and their presiding officers in the National Assembly to downgrade the health need of our people as well as the education necessity of our children.

It is even more distressing that the APC administration would still cut the primary healthcare budget in spite of the recent confession by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, that our health sector had gone moribund despite claims of interventions by the current administration.

Moreover, the slashing of the budget, for basic education despite the poor state of the sector since the last five years, shows that the APC administration has no value for education and prefers to draw our nation back in global competitiveness in critical sectors.

The PDP therefore charges President Buhari to prioritize the welfare and development of Nigerians by cutting the size of his government, clipping its luxuries, curbing the unbridled corruption by APC leaders so as to make more resources available for the health and education need of our citizens.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

https://www.inform.ng/post/pdp-rejects-slash-in-health-education-budgets-berates-apc-buhari-presidency

Barrister Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has hinted on having Yusuf Buhari, son of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, as his running mate in the 2033 presidential election.

The race to the Presidential Villa has actually begun, with many political actors directly or indirectly showing their interests in the position currently being occupied by President Buhari.



In 2023, Nigeria will have a new President, and all things being equal, Bamgbose has noted that though zoning is actually not constitutional, it’s advisable it’s respected considering the diversity of the country.

The senior lawyer, who said his political party would be announced in due course, also warned the North to stay away and relinquish power to the South, recalling that in 1999, the North magnanimously agreed to support a Southerner to be the President with Olusegun Obasanjo coming on board.

“The South West will forever remember the North for this political gesture,” he noted.

“Even though some political pundits may argue that the North only compensated the South West for the loss of MKO Abiola, who was acknowledged to have won the elections. Whichever way, the North should be appreciated for such a gesture.

“Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to Yar’adua in 2007, when he died, Jonathan took over. In 2015, the South joined the North to install Buhari.

“It’s therefore politically justifiable for the North to equally support a Southerner to take over power come 2023.

“Obasanjo never disappointed the North and Nigerians, Olusegun Bamgbose will not disappoint Nigerians.

‘As a matter of fact, I’m considering Yusuf Buhari as my running mate come 2023. It’s high time the youths took over power in Nigeria.

“This consideration of mine might look awkward to many Nigerians but it’s because they can’t see what I’m seeing.

“Yusuf Buhari is a material for leadership. I’m blessed with the gift of seeing beyond the physical.

“I remembered vividly that I once told Jonathan’s Aide that suicide bombing was coming, he doubted me but we all know what’s happening now.

“In 2015 I told Nigerians that Buhari will defeat Jonathan, many thought I was talking nonsense but it came to pass.

“Earlier this year I told Nigerians that a new Chief of Staff will emerge, that has equally happened. Yusuf Buhari is an asset.

“I see him soaring higher politically, other things being equal, he will be my running mate come 2023.

“He has some hidden potentials which will soon begin to manifest soon to the delight of many Nigerians.

“Whichever you look at it Buhari’s name will be difficult to erase in the political history of Nigeria.

“Even after the exit of Buhari as President of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari will still be prominent and very useful. There is something I’m seeing in her that many Nigerians are ignorant of.

“She is an asset. Nigerians are yet to know the wealth stored in her… I hope to meet Yusuf Buhari soon for some serious political discussions.

“In all, the North should concede power to the South come 2023. They won’t regret it.”

Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki, has returned his nomination form to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s governorship primaries slated for June 22nd.

Obaseki, however, asked the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole to stay clear of the Edo state APC primary election.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after he submitted the form, Obaseki said “APC is my party, I’m a party man to the core. It’s absurd for me to obtain APC form and get that of the PDP at the same time.”

He said the state has screened over 300, 000 citizens out of 500, 000 planned to screened.




Detail soon…

https://www.inform.ng/post/i-am-apc-man-to-the-core-obaseki-tells-critics-as-he-submit-form

Two Senators from Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday petitioned the upper legislative chamber over what they described as injustice against the people from their state.

Senators Albert Bassey Akpan and Chris Ekpenyong in their petition said that it was wrong for President Muhammadu Buhari to bypass one their constituents. Mrs Mary Uduk who has been acting as the Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the last two years.



Senator Akpan, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, before laying the petition before the Senate, said they were surprised when President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Lamido Yuguda for conformation as the DG of the SEC.

Yuguda, a former director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was nominated by the President for the position two and half years after Mounir Gwarzo was suspended as the DG of SEC.

Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance, suspended Gwarzo as the DG of SEC for allegedly approving the sum of N104 million for himself as severance package for being a former commissioner of SEC.

Akpan said Uduk who had been acting as SEC DG was recommended to the presidency for confirmation.

The Senator argued that Buhari’s nominee for the top job does not have the experience to perform like Uduk.

“She has been working on acting capacity for two and half years and was recommended by the Minister of Finance to the presidency but surprisingly the name that came here as SEC DG has no experience in SEC,” Bassey said.

“We appeal to the indulgence of this chamber to do justice to Akwa Ibom state.”

But Senator Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central kicked against the petition.

“This is something I don’t understand because it is not this Senate that nominated Lamido Yuguda,” Goje said.

“It was Mr. President in his own wisdom and pursuant to the powers conferred on him by the Constitution.

“Now, a petition is laid before the Senate who is going to defend that nomination before the ethics committee,” Goje queried.

On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the petitioners would be given an opportunity to explain their grouse.

“My understanding is that those who signed the petition will be invited by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to come and explain what they mean and if the committee finds it necessary to invite any other person (they will do so),” Lawan said.

“The onus is on the petitioners, because are going to say what they are petitioning the senate for,” Lawan added.

https://www.inform.ng/post/akwa-ibom-senators-protest-yuguda-nomination-as-sec-dg

…Rejects Announced N121 per liter

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Federal Government to stop fleecing Nigerians with high fuel price by immediately reducing the pump price to N70 per liter to reflect the appropriate pricing template following the fall in the price of crude oil in the international market.

The PDP completely rejects the N121 per liter price announced by the Federal Government, which has even remained unenforced, describing it as highly provocative and a further display of the insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the plight of Nigerians, particularly as they battle the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party insists that a N121 per liter price amounts to fleecing Nigerians of over N50 per liter of fuel. This is in continuation of the N55 per liter overcharge, which Nigerians had borne under the inappropriate N125 per liter, which prevailed for months, before it was brought down to N123.5 per liter, in spite of the crash in international price of crude oil.

The PDP rejects the unnecessary price pinching and demands that the Federal Government, should without further delay, implement the appropriate price as well as declare and account for the billions of naira accruable as overcharge since the crash in crude oil price.

The failure to reduce the pump price as well as the non-declaration of the overcharge is completely unacceptable to Nigerians, as it only points to questions of corruption in the system.

The PDP insists that the APC and its government have no justifiable reason to retain the pump price of fuel at over N70 per liter. It again challenged the APC administration to disprove Nigerians by immediately publishing the prevailing landing cost, depot cost, trucking cost as well as the retail outlet admin cost and show why the pump price should be above N70 per liter.

The party urged the National Assembly to protect the interest of the people by using their legislative instruments to prevail on the Federal Government to implement the appropriate fuel pricing and account for the overcharges.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
https://www.inform.ng/post/stop-fleecing-nigerians-reduce-fuel-price-to-n70-pdp-tells-fg

The Bayelsa State governorship election tribunal sitting in Abuja was on Monday told that investigation by the Department of State Service (DSS) confirmed that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate issued to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has been indeed altered.

The revelation came after the three-man tribunal had in an early ruling stopped the Libration Movement (LM) from joining in the petition challenging the outcome of the governorship election in the state.

A subpoened witness and Head of Legal Department of the DSS, Abdulsalam Ibrahim told the tribunal that the findings of the service was sequel to a court order directing it to investigate allegations of certificate forgery against the deputy governor, Ewhrudjakpo.

Ibrahim who represented the Director General of DSS told the tribunal that it’s findings was based on a thorough investigation carried out on the matter.

In the petition before the tribunal, the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa, Vijah Opuama had alleged that Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate and documents that contain false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.

Testifying before the tribunal, Ibrahim who was led by petitioner’s counsel, Pius Danbe Pius, said: “My lord, on the 22nd of February 2020, we received a letter from an Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja asking the DSS to investigate the NYSC exemption certificate of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the present Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.”

He added that during the conduct of it’s investigation, the service reached out to the NYSC.

According to his evidence, the DG, NYSC wrote to the DG, DSS confirming alteration in the surname in the exemption certificate issued Ewhrudjakpo.

Ibrahim however explained that the alteration was done by the NYSC at the instance of Ewhrudjakpo.

Counsel to the petitioner later tendered a copy of the subpoena, a copy of the letter from the Area Court and two investigation reports dated May 27 and 28, 2020, including an annexture from the NYSC, through the witness.

The tendering of the documents were not opposed to by the respondents’ counsel, including Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), Chris Uche (SAN) and Chukwuma Machwkwu Umeh (SAN).

Accordingly, the tribunal admitted them and marked them Exhibits P1, P2, P3 and P4.

The witness with the permission of the tribunal read out the concluding part of the investigation report thus: “Based on the foregoing and the relevant documents forwarded to this service, it is evident that the subject altered the spelling of his surname to reflect the letter D as against the letter O in the certificate of exception earlier issued by NYSC.”

Under cross-examination by lawyer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Enoidem, Ibrahim confirmed that the alteration in the certificate was effected by the NYSC.

The witness agreed with Enoidem that it is the bearer of a name that knows how best to spell his/her name.
Under cross-exemination by Chris Uche (SAN), lawyer to Duoye Diri (the Bayelsa State Governor), the witness said the alteration was done by the NYSC upon the request by Ewhrudjakpo.

Uche later asked the witness to read paragraph 7 of a document marked “P3” (one of the reports the investigation by the DSS), which Ibrahim read,thus: “it is based on this recent finding, that we wish to bring to the notice of the DSS that we (the NYSC) corrected the certificate of exemption to read Ewhrudjakpo. Only the last letter A was corrected to read letter O.”

When asked to identify an attachment to the report, the witness identified it as “Annexture 2,” which he explained “is a letter to the NYSC seeking a request for correction, following which the correction was now made.”

At the conclusion of the witness’ testimony, Pius said his next witness is Ewhrudjakpo, who he said has been subpoenaed to produce the original copy of the certificate of exemption.

Pius said, by his case plan, the Deputy Governor was the next appropriate witness for the petitioner.

The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo adjourned till Tuesday (June 2) for the hearing of a motion by Ewhrudjakpo, challenging his invitation as the petitioner’s witness.
https://www.inform.ng/post/nysc-certificate-of-bayelsa-deputy-governor-is-fake-dss-tells-tribunal

Africa shoots self in the foot
Only thing worse than being ignored by the US is being noticed by the US‭ ‬
A fresh angle emerged over the weekend about a possible loophole that exists in the voting power arrangement at the African Development Bank (AfDB) that could easily play regional shareholders into the hands of non-regional members should the current United States push actually means Washington wants the bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, out of office.


Many in diplomatic circles, who told Business A.M. they were following developments, think this may be the ultimate goal. But how the United States succeeds in achieving this goal can be seen in how, over the time, the voting power between regional and non-regional shareholders has closed up.

As at December 31, 2019, the distribution of voting power among the regional and non-regional executive directors of the bank was in the ratio of 3 to 2. Regional executive directors had 3,836,605 votes, representing 58.784 per cent, while the non-regional executive directors had 2,689,959 votes or 41.216 per cent.

People familiar with the situation told Business A.M. that even when there are no misgivings, when a powerful shareholder like the United States has an agenda to pursue the diplomatic horse-trading is often fierce.

One source in London put it bluntly: “Would you want to be on the wrong side of President Trump?” He asked, in reference to how such a diplomatic horse trading could play out should the US press some regional shareholders to take its position.


The fact that the US has taken an interest in the matter at the AfDB is something that Business A.M. learnt makes the situation bad as it is. “I’ve always thought the only thing worse than being ignored by the US is being noticed by the US,” the source said.

But the real battle that lies ahead will be in the boardroom, given the voting power equation. As someone said, “the fate of Akinwumi Adesina is not in the hand of African countries but foreign investors.”

But while the ordeals of the President Adesina evokes sympathy, it appears a lot of voices in his support, either from his home country Nigeria, or from other African countries, as shown in media reports over the weekend, have dwelled more on African sentiments than looking at more potent issues that could ultimately determine the direction of events after the moment when the frenzy of supports gets to saturation point.

“In corporate governance, noise is different from facts. Whether the defenders of the embattled AfDB President know it or not, the real battle is more in the boardroom and the ultimate determinants are numbers. In this case, the numbers will play up in a number of ways, one of which is the voting powers of countries,” explained a Lagos-based diplomat.

Nigeria as the largest shareholder has 9.3 per cent voting power. It is followed by the United States which has 6.6 per cent voting power. Others with significant voting powers are Japan (5.4%); Germany (4.2%); Canada (4%); France (3.7%); Italy (2.4%); U.K (1.7%); Sweden (1.5%); Switzerland (1.5%);

Apart from Egypt with 5.4%, South Africa with 4.9%, Algeria with 4.2%, the rest of 8 African nations from Cote d’Ivoire to Kenya have nominal status from 3%-1% voting power.

The vulnerability of most African regional member countries can thus be seen from the table. And when it comes to wielding powers, guess where the pendulum would swing and what factors would sway the vulnerable and the weak to the side of the strong.

And if the US, rightly or wrongly accused of orchestrating the crisis, decides to exit the AfDB, might there be an exodus of other non-regional members? In the unlikely event that this happens, what is the future of the bank? Will it remain afloat or go bankrupt? What will be history of the bank in ten years’ time, should this happen: that the bank ran into financial crisis while regional members try to save one helmsman?

There are insinuations that, post-COVID-19, China might step up its regional interests in Africa. If those interests extend to financial institutions, it will be one of the most egregious mistakes to give China any greater leverage in AfDB than it currently has, even if the motive is to spite the US. The experiences of countries in Europe recently should be a good guide as they are insisting that the stakes of China in their businesses must be kept to the barest minimum.

The question that comes to the fore is this: Is Africa now trying to have it both ways? So, if any of them raise any objection, would they be heard?

How did Africa get here after setting up a bank, then they gifted it to Asia, Middle East, Europe and America? And, what would other countries think of Africa’s reactions to the US?

One analyst said: “I really don’t know enough of the details. But, big picture, especially at this moment, financing in Africa in general and the ADB in particular needs this kind of on-going controversy over governance and transparency like a hole in the head. An internal inquiry, however exhaustive, was never going to have the credibility of an independent probe.”

The future image and credibility of the bank is very important. And external inquest would help in burnishing, not tarnishing, that image. If disallowed, a dark cloud of aspersion may hang precariously and dangerously on the bank for a long term as a bank where public confidence doesn’t matter so much as insiders’ judgment. It may affect the ratings of the bank henceforth and the prospects of getting more funds raised from countries outside Africa. The desperately needed development may therefore suffer needless setback.

So where is this heading to right now? “Well… three weeks is a long time in ADB politics. But it’s not good for Adesina, if only to have failed to prevent it reaching this point,” said one diplomatic source.
https://www.inform.ng/post/surprises-for-adesina-ahead-of-afdb-board-meeting

Members of Cross River State House of Assembly has for the second time rejected the letter from National Judicial Council, NJC, requesting the confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpem as the substantive Chief Judge.

The House in a voice vote said it cannot reverse itself on the matter of who becomes the chief Judge of the state having exhaustively deliberately on the issue three months ago and finally settled for Justice Maurice Ineji.

The rejection was as a result of the second NJC’s letter transmitted to the House by Governor Ben Ayade asking for second  confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the Chief Judge.

Professor Benedict Ayade, Governor of Cross River State had in a letter dated May 29, 2020 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Tina Agbor, Esq, urged the House to treat the attached letter from NJC with “urgency and ensure that there is no vacuum created in it judiciary.”

Shortly after the Clerk had read the correspondence from the Governor, the Leader, Hon Peter Odey, representing Ogoja state constituency, moved a motion saying “having read the letter from the NJC via the  Governor, I move that we accept it as s working document of the House but maintains that we cannot reverse ourselves in this matter. “

The House without any further debate and through a voice vote rejected NJC request again, thereby insisting on Justice Maurice Eneji even as his tenure as Acting Chief Judge expires today, June 2, 2020. He was appointed Acting Chief Judge on March 2, 2020

Recall that the House in a resolution no 45 sent to the government  of Cross River state and signed by the Clerk of the house, Elder Bassey Ekpeyong, had rejected her Lordship, Justice Akon Ikpeme,  as substantive Chief Judge after acting for three months.

According to the House, throughout the period of her acting appointment, she was more concerned about the politics surrounding her confirmation and other irrelevant issues at the detriment of other official matters

The resolution with  ref :HA/ CRS / S/60/VOL .X/ 347 dated March 2, 2020  and made available to Daily Sun stated that after the deliberations on the previous allegations, the House “agreed that any appointment to the office of the Chief Judge of the state should be confirmed for persons of unquestionable character and in overall interest of peace and security of the state.”

Reacting,  Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, Public Service Matters and Conflict Resolution, Hon Efa Esua, representing Calabar Municipality, said: “The letter from the Governor was not referred to my committee.  So my position and a few others remain that Ikpeme be sworn-in and I have not changed.

“I had expected my colleagues to be on the side of the law. But you saw what happened. So let us see how it plays out because Justice Maurice Eneji’s tenure as Acting Chief judge ends today.”

 https://www.inform.ng/post/breaking-criver-assembly-rejects-justice-ikpeme-as-states-cj

The Father of murdered UNIBEN student, Mr Omozuwa, has reportedly renounced Christianity. He confirmed his renunciation of Christianity while speaking to TVC in an interview. 

Mr Omozuwa revealed that his late daughter, Uwadia Omozuwa, was the person who converted him to Christianity.

He remarked that his daughter had been persuading him to become a Christian for a long period of time before he finally gave in to her wish.

Mr Omozuwa added that he was a traditional adherent before converting to Christianity; when he saw the injuries inflicted upon his late daughter, he decided to go back to traditional religion.

I understand what it means to loose a loved one but I'd advice he goes back to Christianity to save his soul from eternal condemnation. A dog does not go back to his vomit.

Remember that late Uwadia Omozuwa was a member of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and was found dead in one of the Church branches in Benin City.

Reports have it that she went there to study ahead of reopening of schools before she was raped and murdered.

Mr Omozuwa is really hurt by what happened to his daughter. But I think he needs Christ Jesus at this time.
https://www.inform.ng/post/justiceforuwa-father-of-murdered-uniben-student-renounces-christianity

madamgrace:


http://muslimrightsmuric..com/2020/05/amotekun-muslims-reject-oduduwa.html?m=1

This is unethical. I published this news with this link

https://www.inform.ng/post/muric-faults-amotekun-says-it-is-ploy-for-secession

But the Mod removed my link and inserted other links.

This is unethical practice.

Lalasticlala

.... Directs Transport Perm Sec To Donate Response Vehicles To Kano, Borno, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina

The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has made appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to give more attention to the north in the fight against COVID-19.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state, believes that the north is fast becoming the epicentre of coronavirus in the country, hence the need for such call.

Amaechi also frowned at the repatriation of almajiris from their state of residence to their state of origin by some governors, he said they are Nigerians and the constitution permits them to reside in any part of the country like every other Nigerian.

New Telegraph's Kemi Bayo reported that, the transport minister stated this, while playing host to the leadership of Arewa Maritime Practitioners Association (AMPA) in his office on Monday, 1 June. Amaechi disclosed to the northern maritime pressure group that he has directed the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of transportation, Sabiu Zakari to donate some vehicles to Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Gombe, and Borno states to assist them in the fight against COVID-19. Pledging that more support will come from his ministry as the Federal Government gradually reopens the economy.
https://www.inform.ng/post/covid-19-amaechi-appeals-to-buhari-to-pay-more-attention-to-the-north

Edo state chapter od Peoples Democratic Party has expressed sadness over the rape and brutal murder of Miss Vera Uwa, a 100 level student of  University of Benin.

This was made known in a press statement signed by Mr Chris Nehikhare, the publicity secretary of the party in the state.

The Statement reads;

"The leadership and members of Edo PDP are saddened to hear of the brutal rape and murder of a young girl with a very promising and bright future, Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100 level student of University of Benin who had her life cut short on May 30th after she was brutally attacked and raped.


These incidences are becoming too frequent and action from all is required to check this brigandry that was enthroned by the APC government when it came to power in 2008.

Criminality assumed a new coloration when cult killings and wars became the new normal under the APC administration. Under the APC government, youths are no longer motivated by the rewards of education, hardwork and good behaviour but rewards of cash extortion from citizens by force under the pretence of collecting revenue for the state government. The APC government made idols and millionaires out of "hard men" and made (education) educated and hardworking men look lazy and not destined to "succeed" .

Edo State government and its party APC, have not shown leadership in the fight against criminality, cultism and gangsterism.

We demand and expect more!

We call on the security agency to act with despatch and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa. We assure them that justice will be served!

#JusticeForUwa

Signed

Chris Osa Nehikhare
SPS PDP EDO STATE"
https://www.inform.ng/post/justice-for-uwa-pdp-reacts-express-sadness

Amidst Covid-19 pandemic, Col Hameed Ali (retired), the Comptroller General of Customs Service, has married New Wife.

But a leaked documents shows that the new bride of the CG Custom is facing a lawsuit by former lover for breaking up with him to marry the Custom boss. The ex boyfriend claimed that the new bride of Col Ali led him into believing that she was going to marry him only for her to dump him to marry another someone else. Consequently, the Ex boyfriend is demanding over 9 million naira as compensatory refund from the wife of the Custom Boss.

It is unclear if the Custom boss is in the know of the latest development.
https://www.inform.ng/post/ex-boyfriend-sue-new-wife-of-custom-boss

Coolcalmcollect:
call and say what? how do people do it, just call for no reason....or you're calling her to ask about her or to gist or what exactly?

perhaps you don't have good relationship with her

Beautiful Tonye. I am glad to see you also write on relationship and family

Contrary to the claims of Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the embattled wife of Rivers state born Billionaire High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs who passed on in December of 2018, a day after his 88th birthday, documents made available to press from the High Court of Ghana proves that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, the second oldest son of the late billionaire met the pre-conditions of the court without delay in anticipation that his step mother who launched all manner of attacks on his person and the entire family, will live up to her own end of the bargain and allow the family access to the mortal remains of the late Chief for onward burial at a tentative date as announced by the family.

Recall that in December of 2019 after a year long legal tussle over the mortal remains of the late High Chief O B Lulu-Briggs, the High court of Ghana had ordered thus;



1: That Seinye Lulu-Briggs release the mortal remains to the family through the second oldest son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and family

2: That Seinye Lulu-Briggs, the applicant also appoints two representatives to represent her at the burial plans meetings while she performs her duties according to the custom of Kalabari people as a widow .

Seinye Lulu-Briggs who had prayed the court that she will be needing an assurance from the family that she will not be put through any form of crude burial practice and to that effect would need the court to order her step son Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs to sign an undertaking to that effect.

The court went ahead and ordered that ;

3: Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs sign and deposit an undertaking with the High Court and the Ghana Police Service that Dr Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs will not be made to pass through any crude customs.

A demand which documents obtained from the court shows that the undertaking was deposited with the court and the police service on the 24th of December 2019 , duly signed by Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs.





Seinye Lulu Briggs on the other hand had taken to newspapers and airwaves claiming through her spokesman that Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs had not met the pre-conditions of the High Court.

Subsequently, Seinye had gone ahead as events revealed, whilst playing the victim whereas she was the antagonist, approached an appeal court to quash the ruling of the High Court of Ghana. Another case which she lost and she went on ahead to approach the Supreme Court of Ghana. At the Supreme Court, the justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana dismissed all cases regarding the Lulu-Briggs family and ordered that the orders of the High Court of Ghana be adhered to.

The Supreme Court also ordered that Seinye Lulu-Briggs also deposit the autopsy report which she claimed she had done to coroners court and let an inquest into the cause of death be established as ruled by high court.

A decision which did not sit well with Seinye Lulu-Briggs who earlier in the week had held a meeting with the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force where she signed an undertaking that she would withdraw all cases against Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs and the entire Oruwari Briggs family and return to status quo as ordered by the High Court of Ghana.

Seinye, is reported to have been out of public view as she is holed up in her Ghana mansion where she uses as her residential address currently in all her suits in various courts.

Investigations also reveals that Seinye has other cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and also other issues of forgery of documents and forceful sales of properties not belonging to her.

Seinye who also doubles as an evangelist has been caught many times in various lies and campaigns of calumny against the family of her late husband and even the Executive Governor of Rivers state HE Nyesom Wike.

Seinye is currently before another court which is in total violation of her undertaking which she signed and deposited with the office of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force in Ghana where she seeks to quash the coroners court inquest into the possible cause of death of her late husband.

This has thrown the entire family into a confused state as they do not know if they will be able to get custody of the mortal remains of their father, grandfather and chief for burial.

Speaking to newsmen in his port harcourt residence on Monday, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs informed reporters that he has been morally harassed by Seinye’s spokesman both on radio and physically in the office of the IG of Nigeria Police Force but he is unperturbed as the only important thing to him and his brothers and family is to get custody of the mortal remains of their late father and proved to give him a befitting burial.

Asked if he has any plans to deny his step mother her rightful place as widow of the late High Chief , Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs reiterated that she will forever remain the wife of his late father and will always have her place in the family and her roles as widow will not be usurped by anyone regardless of how she has treated the name and memory of their father.

Kogi Guber: Former Governor Ibrahim Idris Is Working Tirelessly With Yahaya Bello To Nullify PDP Primary - PDP Elders Raise Alarm

Elders and leaders of Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi state have raised alarm over an alleged anti party activities by Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, a two time former Governor of the state.

The PDP elders make this known in a statement by the party's Elder Forum.

In the statement, the Elders of Kogi PDP regret to announced that the former Governor and his family are instigating crisis to tear the state's chapter of PDP apart in order to render the sacrifices of Kogi state valueless

Kogi PDP Elders Forum in a statement by their leader by Alhaji Ibrahim Dansofo, said that the party has a very reliable information that the former governor and his sons are directly working in collaboration with Kogi state govenor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to ensure that the PDP primary election that produced Engr Musa Wada as the candidate of the party in the 16th November 2019 gubernatorial election is nullified by the Kogi state high court in lokoja.

The Kogi State PDP elders forum also reminded the party leadership on the request for the suspension of the former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Ibro and his son, accusing them of being PDP members during the noon and APC members at night.

Alhaji Dansofo further used the occasion to inform the party's Board of Trustees and National Executive Council NEC of of the implication of entertaining Alhaji Idris in their caucus meeting, noting that the former governor is relaying everything sensitive issue being discussed to Governor Yahaya Bello, the state Governor; who in turn forward the sensitive information to Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state and other APC leaders.

Dansofo added that the fact that Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and his son are still in the court to nullify PDP's gubernatorial primary show how determined the Ibro are to do the bidding of Governor Yahaya Bello, as against the wishes of the people of Kogi state.

“He refused to participate in all PDP rally last year and now he is on his last mission; which is to ensure that the party doesn’t have candidate which will automatically nullify the ongoing tribunal case” Dansofo concluded.
https://headlinenews365.com/kogi-guber-former-governor-ibrahim-idris-is-working-tirelessly-with-yahaya-bello-to-nullify-pdp-primary-pdp-elders-raise-alarm/

yanabasee:
What does it mean to be a home-owner and be paying N78,000 every month??


More like you are still paying rents....

Unlike rent, the house is mine. We just have to keep our monthly payment.

I am 34 years now, my husband is 41, in 24 years I will be 58, while my husband 65. What this means is that we have assurance of serviced accommodation at our middle and advance ages.

fabman66:
Good day my people, due I have been an active member of this forum but I have to open this new account for some reasons and post this in this section because it is the most viewed.
Straight to my point....life has been so hard to me that some times I do give in to some negative thoughts and ideas, not that I'm not lazy or not trying to better my life.let me give some analysis of my situation. A final year student maybe education is the cause of my fucking set back in life because when i think of the opportunity have to make money or focus on making money, i regret why I optioned for education now it seems I'm falling behind in very everything. Some times i doubt the availability of the supreme being called "God". Yes I have my reason for saying that. Born to a poor family with love for education and knowledge it has always been me and my hustle nobody believes that I will ever think of schooling and here I am trying to finish it all by myself .it seems right now everything is falling apart and no one to help. Due to lack of money I now sees myself as a failure that I don't even mind to engage in any thing to make money be it (arm robbery, Yahoo) any negative thing you can think of, provided i can be linked up, cos right now I did
Say Bleep morality and righteousness
Pls anybody that can help me should please reach out to me...
Note: before you call me a lazy man do remember I trained myself from ND to HND with money I made through bike riding.

You really need to see the bigger picture of your life Sir. I passed through hell in this life. Abandoned by uncles and aunties but I never Gave up. You should not give up

DaHrNn0001:
You are a rare kind,a different breed of ideology... Even with your husband jobless, you still respected his place in the family and worked together with him... May God bless you,keep your home and give your husband a good job to pay off for the house... Kudos

Amen o. When my husband married me I only had ND. he saw me through my HND even with his little salary then and luckily I got a fairly good job after school. I am always loyal and indebted to him. I pray God answers our prayer.

.,..

I keep this to reply comments that may arise

Let me share a personal story on how I became a house owner in Lagos.

It all started in February 2019 (exactly 2 years ago) when my landlord increased our rent from by almost 50%. The increment was just too much for me to handle. I discussed with my husband that my salary would not be able to afford the new rent. I also informed him how struggled to keep up with what we were paying. (NB: My husband is hoping on God for a job- you know Nigeria situation). So I discussed the issue with a colleague, who advised me to find way to by land and start building. Her advise sounded academic to my ears as I can't afford the huge amount of money that landowners are demanding.

Fast forward to April 2019, I was introduced to a estate developer attached to Mixta Flex along Lekki-Epe axis by same colleague. I was reluctant at first but after informing my husband, he gave me the go-ahead to meet him. The estate developer told me of a serviced property called Beechwood Park estate at Lakowe, along Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos, and he narrated how I can spread payment for 25 years after paying an initial amount of #250,000. To be honest, I considered it too good to be true. I did my background investigation as a lasgidi woman before money enter voicemail but didn't find anything to doubt the agent.

On June 2019, I gave it a shot by choosing their 2 bedroom bungalow option, paid the initial deposit of 250,000. But I must confess that it was not easy for our family. We had to quit our former 2 bedroom apartment for a 1 room self-contain flat so as to be able to afford the property. My husband also started hustling in garage to assist the household. He sent his younger brother that was living with us to the village as there is no way he can move with us to our self-contained (we have 2 children).

Right now I have peace of mind that me that left my community in the far away southsouth and abandoned by uncles and aunties will be a house owner in Lagos. Although we pay #78000 monthly as part of the payment terms, I still have this peace of mind. I know that as long as God is alive, I will someday move into an apartment that is owned by me and my family.

This is my story how I became a homeowner in Lagos.

Fake News