₦airaland Forum

Qatar University has announced they will convert the hotel room where Argentina captain Lionel Messi lodged in during the 2022 World Cup into a mini museum.

The room, which was reportedly shared with Messi’s lifelong friend and former colleague Sergio Aguero towards the end of Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign, will no longer receive guests, according to Qatari news agency QNA.


“The room of Argentina national team player Lionel Messi will remain unchanged and will remain available only for visitors and not for residence,” Hitmi al Hitmi, director of communications and public relations at Qatar University, has told Qatari newspaper Al Sharq.


“Messi’s belongings and will be a legacy for students and future generations and a witness to the great achievements Messi has reached during the World Cup.”


The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was pivotal in his nation’s first World Cup triumph in 36 years, and was named player of the tournament after netting twice in the final.

The 35-year-old also scooped the silver boot after banging in seven goals as he claimed the one trophy that had always eluded him in his otherwise legendary career.

The chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu has decried the negative role of money in elections, saying its deployment destroys the basis of democratic elections.

Yakubu raised this concern at a “Stakeholders’ Summit on Addressing the Influence of Money in the 2023 General Elections” held in Abuja on Monday.

Read also: Govs out to ruin 2023 polls by stifling opposition — IPAC

The INEC boss said, “It renders the emergence of the right candidates for positions extremely difficult, undermines fair electoral adjudication, and destroys the professional and independent conduct of INEC officials and other public agencies involved in elections.

“Even more worrisome is the high prospect that criminal money may find its way into our elections through money laundering. Above all, the pernicious use of money tremendously increases the likelihood of election violence due to a ‘win at all costs’ mentality among contestants, who would have invested a fortune in election.

“Surely, election is not a business venture for profit. Instead, it is an application to serve the people with the understanding that they may prefer someone else on one occasion. But then, there would be an opportunity to reapply after four years. Citizens’ choices must never be subverted by the negative use of money,” he said.

Meanwhile, ahead of next year’s general election, the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria have called out the state governors, accusing them of trying to sabotage the electoral process by stifling the opposition in their various states.

Also, a rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, asked security agencies to arrest and prosecute those he claimed are “anti-democratic forces” bent on truncating the 2023 elections.

This came as INEC, security and anti-graft agencies decried the high cost of politics in Nigeria and the ruinous influence of money on the nation’s democracy.

Some of the stakeholders at the event were the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu; Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba Alkali; Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN; and Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa


Others were Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC; Director-General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON; Director-General, National Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU; Chairman Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC; INEC National Commissioners; representatives of various security and safety agencies; Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON; Chairman Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN; President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ; representatives of financial institutions and leaders of civil society organisations, CSOs.

Sub-national entities rooting for sabotage

Speaking on behalf of the 18 registered political parties, Chairman of IPAC, Engr. Yabagi Sani, accused state governors of preventing the opposition from selling their manifestos to the state populace.

Sani noted that if money was allowed free rein in the elections, there is no guarantee that elections would be credible, transparent, acceptable, and rancor-free.

He said in the countdown to the 2023 elections, IPAC and a broad spectrum of concerned stakeholders had observed that if urgent and drastic steps were not taken, the elections would not be free, fair, and credible due to the negative influence of money in the electoral process.

He said, “This palpable apprehension is derived from the emerging trend in the actions and utterances of chieftains of some candidates, who clearly are more powerful than the leadership of the political parties. This is evident right from the stage of the primary elections of the political parties and at campaign rallies over reports of the plans to deploy huge, illegitimate sums of money to influence the outcome of the elections.

“All factors considered, the nation will be at a crucial crossroads in its political history in 2023. The stakes are high because we have candidates who in their desperation to clinch power or to wrest it will go to any length disregarding sanity and the law in their bid to have their way.

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“More than any other experience of elections that we have had, the 2023 elections come with a demand that all care and precaution must be taken in order to avoid rocking the boat of democracy.

“Section 91(4) of the act states that no registered political party in Nigeria, its aspirants or candidate should be prevented from holding rallies, processions or meetings at any time for political purposes.

“Governors are, however, stopping opposition parties from campaigning by imposing prohibitive fees for access to campaign venues, placing of campaign posters and erection of billboards. This is happening in many states as I speak here. These undemocratic and illegal actions by elected state actors create a situation where the use of money and incumbency factors are used to subvert the wishes of the electorate,” he stated.

The Nigerian ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki has died at the age of 63.

The news of his death was made public in a statement signed by his children, the former minister was said to have passed away “surrounded by his family” on Thursday, December 15.


“It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to Almighty Allah that we announce the loss of our much loved and admired patriarch, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend,” the statement reads.

Born on November 30, 1959, Seriki was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, and a one-time Minister of State for Defence.

As Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, he had concurrent accreditation as a permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, raised the alarm that some politicians have been buying up Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and financially inducing unsuspecting voters to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The revelation by INEC, however, elicited angry reactions from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, and regional bodies such as the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle Belt Forum, MBF.

Politicians buying PVCs from voters, INEC raises alarm

Raising the alarm during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group, NESSACTION, in Abuja, the National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed that two people were recently convicted for illegal possession of PVCs in Sokoto and Kano states.

The project, supported by the International Foundation for Electoral System, IFES, the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, seeks to assist INEC in increasing the number of PVCs collected ahead of the 2023 general elections as well as the voters mobilised on Election Day.

Speaking, the INEC National Commissioner, said: “We are aware some politicians are more or less buying the PVCs. If you collect the PVC and then you sell it out or allow someone else to have it, you are aiding illegal possession of the PVC which is an offence in our Electoral Act.

“Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people, who were found guilty of illegal possession of PVCs in Kano and Sokoto. So, I urge people to connect their PVCs, keep it safe, and make sure that on Election Day, you go out there and cast your votes because, of course, without your PVC you cannot vote.”

In her remarks, Executive Director of NESSACTION, Ambassador Eniola Cole, explained that the project slated for implementation in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Plateau states, will provide logistics that will generate incentives in communities with low PVC collection rates.

Cole said: “We implore the general public to take advantage of the timeframe set by INEC for PVC collection at the Commission’s LGA offices nationwide from December 12, 2022 to January 5, 2023, and at the 8809 Registration Areas from January 6-22, 2023 including Saturdays and Sundays.

“The public can, through dedicated channels, inform us of their location to receive support including the PVC collection buses and community outreach activities to be conducted at the local level in each state by our community mobilisation officers.”

A worrisome development — PDP

Reacting to the alarm, the PDP, yesterday, described the development as worrisome and a threat to democracy if found to be true.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in a chat with Vanguard, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the security services to up their game by ensuring that the claim was thoroughly investigated and those found culpable in the ugly trade are apprehended and brought to justice.

Ologunagba said: “The alarm raised by INEC should not be taken lightly because in the last couple of weeks, Nigerians have seen an upsurge in the desperate tactics by the ruling All Progressives Congress, to grab and retain power by all means including the purchase of PVCs from gullible people.

“The party has weaponized poverty which it intends to use to cow Nigerians into doing its bidding.

“You will recall the trending video in which the Presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was seen and heard urging his campaign team members to grab, snatch, run away with political power by all means. The authenticity of the video has not been denied.


“Nigerians are also aware that it was the same APC candidate, who refused to sign the Peace Accord.

“The APC and its candidate have also voiced their opposition to the use of BVAS which is an innovation by INEC to improve the quality of our electoral process.

“With all of these tale signs of desperation from the outgoing ruling party, need Nigerians to look any further than the APC?

“As we speak, the APC candidate is yet to tell Nigerians what he intends to do if in the unlikely event he wins.

“The only opportunity which he was given outside the shores of this country, in Chatham House London to be precise, he bungled it by revealing to Nigerians that he intends to unleash a government by proxy.

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“While we await a thorough investigation to unravel the extent to which APCs desperation has led it into seeking to criminally manipulate our electoral process to subvert the will of Nigerians, we implore our security agencies and President Buhari, to remain faithful to their promise to bequeath a credible, free and fair election come 2023.”

Those who weaponized poverty behind the purchase of PVCs — LP

On its part, the Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party tasked security agencies and INEC not to look any further than politicians and political parties, who have over the years, weaponized poverty when looking for masterminds of the purchase of Permanent Voter Cards.

Chief Spokesperson of the LP PCC, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, in a chat with Vanguard said: “We in the Labour Party condemn electoral crime in all its ramifications. I’m certain the politicians being described by INEC are not within our rank or file, that is why we have been taking our plea for votes directly to Nigerians.

“Our candidate has been campaigning and appearing in debates and town hall meetings because he knows the power to put him and his running mate and of course our party in office is in the hands of the people.


“We enjoin Nigerians to beware of politicians, who stole from our common patrimony while in office at one time or another.

“These are the same people who have come to use these same stolen funds to try to buy their PVCs and their votes.

“Nigerian voters should also beware that Section 124 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended), makes it a criminal offence for anyone to buy or sell votes. Both offenses carry a punishment of 12 months in jail or a fine of N500,000 or both on conviction.”

INEC must invalidate stolen, bought PVCs — PANDEF

The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, on its part, urged the electoral commission to put in place a system that would invalidate a stolen or bought Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, on the Election Day and stop crying foul.


PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said: “Now, it is left for the election management body instead of crying foul and raising alarm to put in place a system to ensure that tricks and manipulations of politicians are not allowed to prevail and that they will put models in place to strengthen the excesses of politicians.

“On the part of citizens, it is important to remind us that our vote is our right and that we will bear the consequences of whether we vote rightly or wrongly.

“Citizens should forget the immediate gains of N10,000 or any amount it is, that politicians will give to them to buy their votes before or during the election and that they should put the interest of the country and the future generation above the immediate thing to ensure that we get it right and that it is the true will of the people that will emerge at the various levels of the elections next year.

“It is left for the electoral management body to put in place necessary security mechanisms and infrastructure to ensure that if somebody boys or takes somebody’s PVC the person who bought it can’t use it.

“To have these infrastructures in place is not rocket science. It’s simply that we are in a technological age. If you have such a system in place, if anyone goes to procure or steal somebody else’s PVC, it is simply that the person can’t use it on Election Day.


“I am not sure that those systems are difficult to find and put in place. It’s rather the sincerity of purpose of the electoral body to be unbiased in all situations.

“We don’t want a situation where this so-called alarm raised by the INEC official is a diversionary measure.”

INEC left openings for manipulation — Ohanaeze

In its reaction, Ohanaeze Ndigbo blamed INEC for any manipulations they are experiencing from politicians, saying that they left openings for such manipulations.

National Publicity Secretary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Dr Alex Ogbonnia said: “They ought to be the regulator. They are supposed to regulate the electoral process but the commission that is supposed to regulate the election is now complaining.


“There should be a mechanism in place to ensure things work accordingly. We are supposed to complain to them but now they are the ones complaining to us.

“If indeed there is the electronic model they are trying to use, of course, these things will not be happening.

“There is an opening for people to begin manipulating the 2023 elections. Their body language is indicating that maybe they are going away to what they presented to the public.

“They have not provided the proper mechanism to avoid all these irregularities. That is exactly what they have been doing.”

Politicians creating problems for the electoral system — Afenifere


On its part, Afenifere said it aligned with INEC on its allegation, noting that politicians were creating problems for the electoral system.

In a chat with Vanguard, a member of the National Executive Council, Mogaji Adejumo said: “Basically, INEC has been trying to do the job the way the job ought to be done and for one reason, I think INEC has tried to overcome the initial issues that have plagued our electoral system. One must give them credit for that.

“All the while, the focus has been on the elections and INEC but why would there be an issue if the practitioners (politicians) are principally fixated on ensuring we have successive electoral victories and it will be on a free and fair basis but the practitioners, that is the politicians, are the ones creating problems for the electoral system.

“You can imagine how long it took for the National Assembly to approve electronic transmission of voting; what would have been the ideal thing is to have electronic voting.

“Now that INEC has come out and they have been doing it, to say that the real saboteurs are politicians, Afenifere believes it is time Nigerians, start to query the politicians that are vying for political position.”


INEC must neutralise plans of unscrupulous politicians — MBF

Also, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, tasked INEC to take steps to invalidate and neutralise the plans by politicians.

MBF’s National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu said: “INEC knows the exact figures on the voters’ card. We, the ordinary people, do not know what that means; to us, it means you represent a number.

“But its use and functionality are known best by INEC. If some politicians are doing what he said, they are doing, then it means that somebody somewhere has told those politicians the value of those things being harvested which they can use in rigging or in disenfranchised their opponents.

“So, INEC should put in place something that is going to neutralise whatever they are doing; because technology is something that evolves. If politicians are buying off PVCs with a view to extracting numbers, they should get their technicians now to invalidate whatever input that may come from such exercise, and that will save Nigeria.


“We know that some desperate politicians will always want to beat the system no matter how perfect you may think it is, but certainly in spite of all these challenges including this one, the BVAS technology will give us something better that what we had in the past.

“Apart from this, we will also like INEC to raise an alarm like what they are trying to do or what they have done through INEC in Borno and some of the challenged areas where they are falsely trying to create ‘super camps’ as voting areas.

“For example, there is no part of Chibok that you cannot go and conduct the election. No part of Chibok is occupied by insurgents, yet they want to create ‘super camps’. And Chibok is one of those I know that they have selected for that arrangement.

“A super camp is a place where a lot of polling units will be concentrated in one area and people from that area concerned will all concentrate at the voting cluster and vote.

“What that means is that if a politician is not rich enough to transport all his supporters to the cluster, he is automatically disenfranchised.


“This is being done in collusion with INEC and should be stopped.

“So, while they are identifying the issue of purchase of PVCs and harvesting of numbers the issue of what INEC is doing in Borno which I believe is being influenced from outside, should also be stopped.

“Yes we know that there are Local Governments that have been occupied by insurgents, the State Assembly has indicated two, the other Local Government Areas still have their people residing there and can have their elections in their local government areas.

“In Chibok, which I mentioned, every part can be accessed and elections can hold there. We know it is not the same in Danbua because the majority of the villages are deserted but it is not the same thing in Chibok.

“So, for them to come up with that blanket decision, it is just a recipe for rigging and we believe that INEC is involved in this. So, they should look at the situation because it is a recipe for rigging.”

Tinubu’s rags to riches story hogwash —ATIKU’S AIDE

My experience, democratic credentials prepared me for Presidency —ATIKU

ABUJA — Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, were at daggers-drawn over desperate attempts to gain power at all cost.

While the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, accused the PDP candidate of being desperate to capture power by any means possible, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, faulted Tinubu’s claims of inherited wealth and trading in stocks to become rich.


Tinubu’s rags to riches story hogwash — SHAIBU

Mr. Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, yesterday, faulted claims by Tinubu that he inherited wealth and traded in stocks to become rich.

According to him, Tinubu muttered these fairly tale in response to a question about the true source of his wealth when responding to questions from a BBC reporter in a recent interview.

Shaibu, in a statement, said: “Obviously thrown off balance when the BBC reporter asked him to disclose the source of his stupendous wealth, APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, responded by asking, ‘Are you an enemy of wealth?’ He subsequently told a fable of how he inherited property and also traded stocks like Warren Buffet. This is complete hogwash. This is obviously balderdash. Tinubu would do well to stop comparing himself with Warren Buffet, whose source of wealth has never been linked to narcotics by US authorities.

Tinubu’s source of wealth


“To be clear, questions on Tinubu’s source of wealth did not start today. US authorities said Tinubu revealed in bank documents that he worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited in 1989 and his salary was just $2,400 and he had no other sources of income.

“But records from his First Heritage Bank account showed that in 1990 (just within one year), Tinubu deposited $661,000 into his individual money market account and in 1991 deposited $1,216,500 into the same money market account. Where did he get the money from?

“On the other hand, Atiku Abubakar’s source of wealth has never been in doubt. The ones he has listed publicly include: NICOTES (now Intels) founded in 1989; Prodeco, 1996; Atiku Farms, 1982; and ABTI schools, 1992.

“Some of these companies like INTELS have had reputable Nigerians like the late General Shehu Yar’Adua and even traditional rulers on its board. We dare Tinubu to list his companies and source of wealth as Atiku has done.

“Bola Tinubu is a man who publicly boasted in Osun State in 2018 that he was richer than Osun. In 2019, he had bullion vans on his premises in Ikoyi and admitted to sharing money with his supporters.


“When he was challenged by journalists, he said he was not a government contractor. So, what is his source of wealth?

“Why can’t Tinubu be brave enough to reveal his source of wealth? For starters, this is a man whose name is not even on the CAC registration documents of any of the companies linked to him.“

My experience, democratic credentials prepared me for Presidency

— ATIKU

Speaking at another forum, the PDP candidate, yesterday, said his credentials as a public servant, businessman, part of the political class, who fought the military to return democracy as well as former Vice President put him ahead of other contenders in the 2023 presidential contest.


Atiku said this in his opening remarks at the Channels Television Town Hall meeting, in Abuja.

He said would use the scientific method to handle insecurity, review the Niger Delta Ministry and institutionalize tradermoni among others.

He said: “Nigeria has never gone through what it is going through at the moment. I was among those who fought the military, I went on exile. We (with my running mate) may not have all the answers but we will do by listening to Nigerians, it is not that we have not been listening but we are here to listen more.”

I’ll use the scientific method to deal handle insecurity

Atiku Abubakar, who described the Boko Haram insurgency as puzzling in response to a question on the security situation in the North East especially the Boko Haram, confessed that he was yet to fully understand what the whole Boko Haram insurgency phenomenon was about because there were several issues involved.


He explained that his plans to deal with the security challenges in Nigeria will be scientific.

He cited the example of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, where he said over 10 million people live but that one can hardly find a uniformed policemen on the streets yet crime is detected and dealt with speedily.

Atiku said: “I still cannot find in Borno State where a man can hide. I’ve been to the place called Sambisa, there is no forest there, just shrubs 30 feet above the ground when you are flying back to Nigeria, you see people moving.

“When I served in Borno, the then North-East, I did not see where any person can hide. Yet, we deployed the Nigerian military which used to be the best, they fought many wars outside.

“I’m puzzled. I don’t understand, maybe when I get there I will understand. Everything there is politics, business. What is required is leadership.”


Responding to a question about his plans for the Niger Delta, the PDP candidate expressed sadness that his ideas passed on to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua which culminated in the setting up of a Ministry for Niger Delta Affairs was yet to achieve its objective.

“The Ministry has not been able to deliver on one project. Take the East-West Road for example, they have enough money to complete it but have not. When we come in, we will review its functions.

Speaking about the Trader Moni programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, Atiku lamented that it had degenerated into a political tool at the hands of the APC.

He said for it to be effective, it has to be institutionalised, so that it can survive administrations and give more Nigerians access to better their lot.

Earlier, his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, described his principal as the right man for the job, adding that with the poor state of affairs in the country, Nigeria needs him to make things right.”


Beware of Atiku’s sugar-coated promises

—TINUBU

Countering Atiku, Director, Media and Publicity of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Bayo Onanuga, said PDP should be eternally shameful about its appalling record in governance between 1999 and 2015.

Onanuga, in a statement, said: “We need to warn Nigerians to be wary of the sugar-coated promises of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and his PDP as they embark on their inordinate and desperate campaign to gain power at all cost.

“Of course, this is fake history at its worst. We are not fooled. Nigerians should also not be fooled about the bare-faced lies, being articulated by the candidate and his party.


“What is more shocking is Atiku’s audacity in standing up to ask for our votes despite what his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote about him in his book, ‘My Watch’. Obasanjo wrote that it would have been an unpardonable mistake ‘and sin against God to foist him on Nigeria.’ Obasanjo still believes so till tomorrow.

“Obasanjo still rues till today making Atiku his vice president in 1999, only to discover later, as stated in the former president’s book, his (Atiku’s) shadowy parentage, his propensity to corruption, his tendency to disloyalty, his inability to say and stick to the truth all the time, a propensity for poor judgment, his belief and reliance on marabouts, his lack of transparency, his trust in money to buy his way out on all issues and his readiness to sacrifice morality, integrity, propriety, truth and national interest for self and selfish interest.

I’m not surprised about Atiku’s latest desperation

“Aware that this is his last shot at the elusive presidency, Atiku, while on the hustings, has been spewing series of lies, making empty promises and presenting a false narrative about our present reality and the legacy of the 16-year ignoble era of the PDP administration, of which he was a principal actor.

“He claimed at his rally in Abuja on Saturday that the country is not secure for trading and farming, a false narrative that he has been pushing around for some time, since he relocated to Nigeria from his base in Dubai, principally to contest the election.


“We believe in his private moment that Atiku will concede that his view about insecurity is exaggerated. Our country is certainly better secure than in 2015 when the PDP allowed insurgents to seize 17 local councils in Borno and some four councils in Atiku’s home state of Adamawa State, when Abuja was under constant bomb attacks and people slept with eyes wide open.

“What further proof of progress made by the APC does Atiku need than the fact that he was able, recently, to carry his party men and women to Maiduguri to hold a rally, without any attacks by insurgents and bandits. Atiku can also drive smoothly from Yola, his state capital to Jada, his home town on a reconstructed road by the Buhari-led APC administration. The road was impassable for eight years Atiku was Vice President and got progressively bad and totally cut off from civilisation until the Buhari government reconstructed it.

“Atiku claimed that our country has the highest number of out-of school children in the world, without telling his audience that the problem, which was exacerbated by banditry in North-West and insurgency in North-East, took its root from the stewardship of his party when the population of out-of-school children phenomenally rose from 10.5 million in 2010 to 13.2 million in 2015.

“The most grotesque of Atiku’s promise is that he will ensure that the ASUU stopped going on strike, so that universities “reopen forever and ever.”

Mr. Atiku forgot to tell his audience that a PDP government in 2009 signed an agreement with ASUU, which it never implemented for six years, leaving the mess of the agreement for APC to deal with.


“Meanwhile, as Nigerian universities were left to rot under the PDP’s watch, Atiku and his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo opted to set up their own universities, ABTI-American University and Bell University, meant for the children of the rich.

“A pointer that this former vice-president has not changed in his character as portrayed by Obasanjo and his promise to sell the newly commercialised NNPC Ltd and all its assets and subsidiaries for just $10 billion. Even before inviting bids, he had already undervalued the oil conglomerate, the way he undervalued Nigerian companies he was asked to sell, under the abused privatisation programme of the Obasanjo administration.”

I’ll be a fair, just President to Nigerians — TINUBU

Meanwhile, the APC candidate, yesterday, assured that his emergence as the next president of Nigeria would bring an end to poverty, insecurity and other woes bedevilling the country.

He said this at a Town Hall meeting with Muslim Leaders from South-West in Ibadan, Oyo State.


Tinubu was accompanied to the meeting by South-West leaders led by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Femi Hamzat; the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin; former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; Deputy Director-General of his campaign, Hadiza Usman and Senator Fatai Buhari, among others.

Describing the 2023 general elections as “Nigeria’s momentous encounter with destiny,” Tinubu urged the Islamic clerics to educate their followers on voting only tested candidates with a track record of excellent public service, “and not falling for the lies and gimmicks of those that have nothing to offer.”

His words: “This election season has been a hybrid of facts and falsehood, truth and lies. I will like the election to be one based on facts and truth.

“What is a candidate’s record of performance and what are his policies? I ask you to urge your followers to come out and vote and to do so wisely. Vote for a candidate that has a vision for a peaceful, prosperous Nigeria where tolerance and compassion undergird our constitutional and legal rights.

“My pledge for fairness and justice is consistent with the tenets of the Islamic faith.


“A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern honestly and democratically in harmony with our nation’s constitution.”

On security, the APC candidate vowed to end the reign of terror, kidnappings and other violent crimes by recruiting more personnel that would be trained and retrained, in addition to providing more security tools and gadgets for an effective fight against criminal elements.”

Earlier, MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, said the event provided an opportunity for the APC candidate to interface with the Muslim leaders of South West on his plans for the nation if elected.

In his remarks, National Chief Missioner of Anwar-ur- Deen Movement, Sheikh Ahmad Abdulrahman, said the gathering was not to campaign or endorse Tinubu or any candidate, “but to see whether Tinubu can still deliver for the country as he did as governor of Lagos State.”

Christians in Oyo pray for Tinubu’s emergence


Meanwhile, the Otun-Apesinola of Ibadanland, Chief Dotun Sanusi, yesterday, rallied Christians across Oyo State to pray for Tinubu.

The event, which had representatives of Christian groups, was held at Ibadan.

Those present include the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Ibadan, his vice-chairman, CAN chairmen in Lagelu, Ido, Ibadan South West, Ibadan North, Ibadan North West, Egbeda, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ibadan South East as well as the vice chairman in Ona Ara local government areas.

Speaking at the event, Sanusi, who was represented by Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, said the electorate must look beyond religion in their choice of next president.

Why Tinubu is not fit to be Nigeria’s President


Meanwhile, replying Media and Publicity of Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Onanuga, Shaibu said: “I must confess that I consider the statement a curious endnote to what Onanuga, referred to as “A warning to Nigerians.

“In the said statement, Onanuga laboured, albeit unsuccessfully, to paint the PDP, Presidential Candidate as patently dishonest.

“I am aware that we are in the season of fireworks, when exchange of long-range artillery shells and small arms fire are supposed to dominate political communication in Nigeria but I get the sense that Onanuga went over the top when he described Atiku as “a man who is not prepared for the job he is applying for and a man who cannot be entrusted with our commonwealth.

“Onanuga’s statement is bad public relations for the APC Presidential Candidate, for a good public relations doesn’t consist in attacking a critical public opinion. It seeks to create understanding instead. If you face a PR challenge, like the Tinubu presidential campaign outfit suffers at the moment, talking down to the critical public or an opponent is like approaching a problem by methods that could make it worse.

“It is shameful and unfortunate that all that the APC can rely upon to campaign is what former President Obasanjo had said. It is obvious that what the ruling party is hoping to achieve is to continue in their old habit of obfuscation and taking attention of the electorate away from issues that are critical to the this election season.


“While we will not waste much time to educate the APC and their presidential candidate to note that self-same President Obasanjo has made commendable remarks about Atiku which outdates the old story that they will want recycled to confuse the public.

“However, our reaction to the APC is that currently, their party has pushed Nigeria deeper into the abyss of poverty, insecurity, indebtedness. It will be good to challenge the APC to acknowledge one aspect of Nigeria’s national life where they have not reversed the fortunes of the country compared to what was handed to them in 2015.

“It is for this reason that Nigerians have roundly rejected the ruling party and what the likes of Bayo Onanuga will want to achieve is to fabricate old tales, such that will take attention away from the hardship that the APC has lunched on a large percentage of Nigerians.

“The other issue that is critical to this election season is the shifty persona of the presidential candidate of the APC.

From all available public records, former governor of Lagos State and self-acclaimed national leader of the APC, Ahmed Tinubu lives in shadowy garbs. Tinubu’s identity, education, health continues to be the key issues about what the APC is offering to Nigerians. A candidate whose profile is more rooted in inflated edification of disbeliefs.


“We know that the only reason that the APC is re-presenting an old story about Atiku is because they are aware of the rejection of their party and its presidential candidate by Nigerians.

“On the contrary, Atiku continues to appear with media town hall engagements and assuring Nigerians of his plans to recover the country from the ruins that the APC has made of it,” he added.

Oladapo Oyebanjo, better known as D’banj, has confirmed that he has indeed been released by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), after spending over 72 hours in detention.

The artiste who made the disclosure via his Instagram post on Friday said he has no business with fraud while stressing that all he loves to do is ‘chopping’ life.


His words: “Global thank you to the world. I was invited on an ongoing investigation in ICPC. I have assisted the commission with all I know and I am confident in their capacity to unravel the truth. I have no business with fraud, all I do is chop life. I was released on self-recognition because nothing was seen or found on me. God bless you all my people,” he captioned his recent photo.”


The musician was released by the commission on Friday afternoon.


His lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi said D’banj was released on supervised probation but couldn’t confirm whether the ICPC had given the musician administrative bail.

He also claimed that the ICPC didn’t trace any evidence of fraudulent activity to the singer.

“Nothing incriminating was found on him. He was released on self-recognition. Right now, we expect the ICPC to give a letter of clearance to Dbanj because, as we have always said, he is innocent of the charges brought against him,” the lawyer said.

Bank customers deposit over N1trn old notes

ABUJA-Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, said that the apex bank would consider tweaking the new weekly cash withdrawal limits of N100,000 and N500,000 for individuals and corporate bank customers.

Emefiele, who addressed State House correspondents after meeting behind closed-doors with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, assured that the apex bank would not be rigid on the policy as it was not meant to hurt anybody but to strengthen the nation’s economy.

Emefiele also hinted that over N1 trillion worth of old notes had been deposited by bank customers, adding that the CBN has distributed the new N200, N500, and N1,000 notes to banks for disbursement to their customers, ahead of the December 15, earlier scheduled for circulation of the new notes.


New Cash Withdrawal Limits

Recall that CBN had on Tuesday unveiled a revised cash withdrawal limit with a maximum of N100,000 cash withdrawal per week for individuals and N500,000 cash per week for corporate bodies.

Responding to the reactions to the new limits, Emefiele explained that more and more countries embracing digitization have gone cashless and that the policy was not targeted at anybody,

Emefiele, who said he visited Daura to greet Mr. President and brief him on what was happening in the CBN and the economy, revealed that President Buhari “Was happy and said, we should carry on with our work, no need to fear, no need to bother about anybody.”

He said that the new policy of the apex bank was for the good and development of the Nigerian economy, adding, “We can only continue to appeal to Nigerians to please see this policy the way we have presented it.”


On the pushback from the Senate, he said, “Well, the Senate is the National Assembly, they are the legislative arm of the government and from time to time, we brief them about what is happening and about our policies and I’m aware that they have asked for some briefings and we will brief them.

“But I think it’s important for me to say that the cashless policy started in 2012. But on almost three to four occasions, we had to step down the policy because we felt that there was need for us to prepare ourselves and deepen our payment system infrastructure in Nigeria.

“Between 2012 and now 2022, that is almost about 10 years, we believe that a lot of electronic channels have been put in place that will aid people in conducting banking and financial service transactions in Nigeria.

Agent Banks

“We heard people talk about some of the people in the rural areas and the truth is that even online banking, as I was coming out to Daura, I saw a kiosk that had a super agent today. It’s because of the way we felt that there was a need for us to deepen the payment system infrastructure. We have 1.4 million super agents that are all over different parts of the country, all local governments, and all villages in this country.


“And I have told my colleagues, some of their names are already on the CBN website and we will publish all the names of all the super agents. And super agents are different from the banks and microfinance banks, which is different from other financial institutions. Having 1.4 million of them is as good as having 1.4 million banking points where people can conduct services.

“We think, Nigeria as a big country, the biggest economy in Africa that we need to leapfrog into the cashless economy. We cannot continue to allow a situation where over 85 per cent of the cash that is in circulation is outside the bank. More and more countries that are embracing digitization have gone cashless.

“I said it at different fora, that this is not targeted at anybody, it is meant for the good and development of the Nigerian economy and we can only continue to appeal to Nigerians to please see this policy the way we have presented it.

“We will be reviewing from time to time, how this is working because I cannot say that we are going to be rigid. But it is not to say that we will reverse it, it is not to say that we will change the timing, but whether it is about tweaking some amount to be a little bit higher or a little bit lower, and all the rest of them.

“We will do so because we are humans, we want to make sure that we are making life good for our people. We do not want to make life difficult for them. So, there is no need for anybody to worry. The CBN is monitoring what is happening and I can assure everyone that we are up and alive to our responsibilities and we will do what is right for Nigeria and Nigerians.”


New Naira notes distribution

On distribution of the redesigned naira notes, Emefiele said: “There are so many things happening, issues bordering on the new currency and the fact that only on Wednesday, the new currency has now reached the banks and we expect that the banks will now begin to distribute those currencies to their customers.

“I can only assure you that it will go round, let us just be calm, luckily the old currency continued to be legal tender till January 31, 2023. So, I want to crack a joke, both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as a legal tender. But by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again, so please take it to your bank as quickly as possible,” he added.

N1trn old notes deposited

On the amount of the old notes, the CBN has been able to get back to the vaults, he said: “At the Central Bank, we have taken in over half a trillion and with the banks, we also have close to half a trillion. But what we have done in the Central Bank is to move more people from different departments into currency processing, so that they can process this cash as quickly as possible and from there, banks can now move what they have with them.”

National Women Leader of the rulung All Progressives Congress, APC., recently made waves at the Chatham House, London, while fielding a question on behalf of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s presidential flag bearer, on issues around public health when the latter visited the independent policy institute Monday.

Dr Betta Edu who is a Harvard Certified Medical Doctor, a Public Health Specialist from the London School of Hygine and Tropical Medicine, University of London UK, recently bagged the Fellowship of the African Institute of Public Health Professionals in Cairo, Egypt.


Edu is a member of the Presidential Health Reform Committee, Nigeria, immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum, Fomer Commissioner for Health in Cross River and Chairman of the COVID-19 Response task force in Cross River state. As first Director General and CEO of the Cross River State Primary Health care Development Agency, an agency she created from the scratch working under the Leadership of Governor Ben Ayade and Dr Linda Ayade, she was Special Adviser to the Governor.

She tells WO why it won’t be business as usual with regards to women participation.

Women have been more visible in the APC campaign this year than before. Why?

Basically it’s the role the women want to play in the incoming administration and we need to change that narrative right now. As Nigerian women, we are asking for 35% affirmative action. We want to be at the front burner and we want to be maintainstreamed. We must work for it because power is not served a la carte.

You will not sit in your house and the men are everywhere campaigning for votes and they are doing a great job and just believe somehow that when they are done, they will hand over the prepared meal to you. It doesn’t work that way.

So we are out there doing the work across the nation and going to get the right result and then we can now come to the table and place a demand based on the result we have produced.

Talking about affirmative action, do you think APC is still going to do otherwise if elected again?


Hundred percent sure. Even on this, it is not yet over. During the launch of Women Campaign team, the president said he was putting together a team to look into it and present it back to the house, believing that this second time, it will scale through.

A lot of work and lobbying has to go underneath and of course reaching out to the right quarters so we can get it right. So even at this time, it is not going to handover to the next administration. The president is still committed to it .

Women especially at the grassroot are always used as praise singers and they are given immediate reward of foodstuff and cash etc. What is your plan as the APC women leader to at least change the scenario and improve the lives of women at the grassroot?

As APC women leader, if you have followed my activities since I have been elected as the woman leader, it has not been the usual. Like you said that women are only given rice, wrapper, cash and they are praise singers. We have been empowering women and taking care of their welfare.

We have done financial Empowerment for women across Nigeria. We have supported female farmers, we have supported business start ups and we have even done various outreach in various states for our women. All of these is to build them up financially, preparing them to contribute more to their families and the society.


For us, it is not just to get the women to come and sing and dance, we want to build women at the grassroots.

Government is also putting in a lot to build women. There is the unconditional cash transfer under the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs 70% of the beneficiaries are women at the grassroot. When we talk about survival fund, TraderMoni and all other interventions are basically targeted at the grassroot and 70% beneficiaries are women.

The unconditional cash transfer has reached about 9million and over 6million out of it went to the women, so they can be economically empowered to be able to make their contributions to their families, the society and indeed their own lives.

But the scenario is that once you don’t belong to the ruling party, you don’t benefit. Are these intervention funds for your party women or for all women?

It’s for all women. In fact when I go to carry out interventions, I don’t call women based on party membership. Nigerian women are our focus. We have gone to states that are not APC states for intervention and it was the governor that invited women to the hall. Majority of those women were not APC women and they all benefitted from it as long as they were able to get to the venue.


Will a PDP seating governor go and call APC women to fill the hall? No. Our intervention is for women not for our party alone. If it’s just for our party women, we wouldn’t have been going to states that are not APC.

In the Tinubu manifesto, is there a specific thing for women that women will be looking forward to?

A whole lot. In all the persons that have put out their manifestos across the country, one thing I can boldly tell you is that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the only one who expressly stated what he wanted to do for women and he was specific. He did not make general statement.

Other party’s manifestos just said they will empower women. Asiwaju was very clear on what he wanted to do. He started by saying that he will ensure that women get the 35% affirmative action and it’s not going to be affirmative action for appointment alone but affirmative action for everything. Affirmative action for elective positions, for employment, in terms of contact, access to utilities and all rounds.

He was careful enough to say it that in the Federal Excecutive Council, 35% of people there will be women. He didn’t beat about the bush. In appointments to the boards, parastatals etc, 35% of the leadership will be women. He was specific. He hit the nail on the head and didn’t go about saying a general statement. In terms of employment, mainstreaming the gender, fighting against Gender Based Violence among others.


How many women are out there to be elected to get the 35% in elective positions? We have many of them in other parties that are not ‘big’ or at the forefront’

My coming into the office moved things from where they were to a higher level. Before now we used to have like 20 to 30 women running for offices in the party but it has moved from that figure to 95. We are hopeful as we are supporting them to cross the line and become the actual candidates. This is a departure from the previous normal. Under Asiwaju, things will improve because he is a deliberate politician who is known for going extra miles to fulfill what he put his mind to do.

He has given women that direct commitment that things will change.

For example 2 out of 5 delegates will be women for the states and Local Government elections while for the national, 1 out of 3 would be women. His manifesto clearly stated social inclusion and Empowerment for women and he even said the position will be a minimum number of 35% and not maximum.

Now, not talking as a politician, seeing a lot of promises in the past, can Nigerian women take it to the bank that this is what will happen?


The difference between Asiwaju and others is that others give promissory notes that they never kept. Asiwaju did what he said. In Lagos State, Asiwaju is the first person who made a woman the Head Of Service in Lagos State.

He is the first person who made a woman the Chief Judge. In Lagos today, because of the employment opportunity he gave to women, majority of the Permanent Secretaries in Lagos State are women. Even in the Civil service, he still priotised them; giving them employment and giving them promotions.

He was the first who made a woman Deputy Governor which is now a trend. Going back to his household, Asiwaju was not intimidated by his wife going to become senator while he was not in any government office. He encouraged his wife to pursue her dreams and goals. So you are seeing a man who has given raw evidence to empower women. There is no better way to speak it than to say Asiwaju will be there for women.

What have you learnt as a woman leader since you resumed office?

Human management. The ability to manage people at the higher and more diverse level. Before now, I have managed people but it has been around the health sector. I was the former Special Adviser to the governor on Health. I have managed profesionals which has been a lot easier.


At this time, I’m managing an entire diversity of women at different cadres of life; some old, some young, some middle aged, some rich, some middle class, some poor, some educated and some not educated. It is a different level of exposure.

These six months, have taught me how to manage different people with different backgrounds, cultures, understanding and believes.

The ability to have patience, to pull women in the right path to deliver better results for all as women. These are big lessons and I’m really grateful for that.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has urged his team to believe they can defeat powerhouse Spain as they attempt to reach a first World Cup quarter-final.

The north African side are in the last 16 for only the second time after advancing as winners of Group F ahead of 2018 runners-up Croatia, having defeated Belgium and Canada in Qatar.


“It will be a very testing game for us. We’re coming up against one of the best footballing nations in the world. I think they’re one of the favourites to reach the final,” Regragui said on Monday.

“That said, we’ve also got things up our sleeve. We’ve had one extra rest day compared to them and we’re going to try and pull a surprise out of the bag.

“If we’re able to send Spain packing I think this will be a wonderful surprise not only for us but for our country.”

Spain denied Morocco a famous win at the 2018 World Cup with a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw, the only point the Moroccans picked up in Russia.


“We’re not seeking revenge at all. We’re not looking at what happened in the past,” said Regragui, who was appointed in August.

“We’ve got a new generation and, for me, the mentality has to change with the Moroccan team. All the negative aspects, that’s the old Morocco, we’ve changed. Our country’s changed.”

Morocco, the lone Arab nation and the last African team remaining in Qatar, will have the vocal backing of thousands of fans for Tuesday’s game at Education City Stadium.

“We’ll come out swinging. We want to hoist the Moroccan flag way up high. We’re playing first and foremost for us and our country,” said Regragui.

“All Arabs and Africans, we want to make them happy. We want their prayers and we want their support so it can give us that extra ingredient to win. Before it was just the Moroccans that supported us.”

Morocco would become just the fourth African team to reach the quarter-finals — after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 — if they beat the 2010 champions.

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Morocco’s only other appearance in the last 16 came in 1986, when they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up West Germany.

“I don’t think we should go out with any sort of complex,” said Regragui.

“Yes, we’re the underdog, but we know what Spain are made of and the recipe is easy. We shouldn’t be worried, we should have no regrets and give the best of ourselves.”

The Director of Strategic Communication of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Dele Alake has described critics of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as character assassins.


Speaking on Channels Television, Politics Today, Alake while commending Tinubu’s delivery at Chatham House in the Uk said: “Tinubu proved all the naysayers of negativism, all those who left germane issue facing Nigeria and engaged in character assassination wrong.

“Asiwaju has been applauded and commended by all and sundry. From the report we got, people are saying they never knew he was this articulate, he was flawless”.

Asked why people spoke for him during questions, he said: “That’s one of the innovations of Asiwaju Tinubu. Don’t forget that one of his strengths has been identifying talents and head hunting of the highest order.

“Anybody who knows Asiwaju would know that he’s primus inter pares in team building that is what he showed. Those who are saying what you just said are ignorant of the dynamics of leadership.”

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Alake insisted that “leadership is not a one man show! Successful leadership is the one that is based on a team that is professional, and that is management acumen. Asiwaju also answered questions personally and directly.

“He wanted to show the calibre of his team. In fact that style is being copied by some of his opponents. In his address, he spoke for 28 minutes. Nobody helped him to deliver his address. The question and answer was a small part of the engagement.

“He sought to display the dexterity of his team which is also an important ingredient in successful leadership. People must get their priorities right. When you want a good leader and one of the requirements of a good leadership is the ability and capacity to build a strong team that is knowledgeable and strong, that is what Tinubu has done”.

Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has replied critics of his educational qualifications, mocking them for wasting their resources on a wild goose chase.

Speaking on Monday at the Chatham House, Tinubu said he was born on March 29, 1952 and that he has never disowned his biological father.

He said one of his fellow contestants who has been sponsoring sundry allegations against him is now rumoured to be a non-Nigerian but that he (Tinubu) has never made it a campaign issue.

On his sojourn at Chicago State University, Tinubu said he is now in possession of his original certificate.

He said; “I was dated March 29, 1952. My record is consistent. The records are there. The transcript is there. I am not claiming another father. I am Tinubu proper. If they want a DNA, they could ask for one. One of them has been accused of not even being a Nigerian citizen. I didn’t touch that area. Deloitte has confirmed me. Chicago State University can confirm it. Now, I can announce that I have received my original replacement degree certificate.


“Deloitte trained me as an accountant. Mobil has affirmed my records. In the private sector, who among them can brag about these?”

An APC member from Kano state, one Sagir Mai Iyali had in a petition dated May 17, 2022, asked the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun President Screening Committee of the party to disqualify Tinubu over alleged false documents the latter submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in 1998.

Iyali said Tinubu was above the required age to contest the office of president and that while his age was not known, his identity was also shrouded in secrecy.

OSOGBO — Former governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday, accused his successor, Governor Ademola Adeleke of declining to meet with the hand-over team of his administration.


Adeleke had set up a transition committee to interface with the Oyetola-led administration, but the committee headed by Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji alleged that the Oyetola team did not co-operate with it.

But Oyetola, through his spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, said a team headed by the Chief of Staff to the former governor, Dr. Charles Akinola had written to Adeleke’s team seeking to meet them but the team declined.


Adeleke refused to meet us

Omipidan disclosed that the team set up by former Governor Oyetola sought to meet with the transition committee of Governor Adeleke on November 23, but the team instructed that the team should hand over to the most senior civil servant in service.


A letter, dated November 27 and addressed to Governor Adeleke, titled ‘Presentation of hand-over report’, signed by the former Secretary to the State Government, Oluwole Oyebamiji, reads: “I bring you warm greetings from the Government and the good people of Osun.

“Furtherance to my correspondence dated November 23rd 2022 and referenced SSG.165/Vol.IV/757, I write to inform you that the Government Transition Committee is constituted by His Excellency. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has concluded the compilation of a comprehensive Hand-Over Report to facilitate a smooth transition of the incoming Administration.


“Consequently, kindly find attached, a copy of the Report for your information and further necessary action.

“Please accept the best wishes and warm regards of Mr Governor.”


They’re jokers- Adeleke’s Transition C’ttee chair

However, Chairman, Governor Adeleke’s Transition Committee, Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji described Oyetola as a joker, saying the administration refused to respond to the letter written to them for over two months.

Oladimeji said: “They are jokers. We wrote to them over two months ago that we should meet but there was no reply and then on Friday, the weekend they were to go, they told us that they will meet us by 2 p.m.

“How does a transition committee meet by 2 p.m, exchange documents and ask questions? We told them that it is a handover note, hence, they should drop it with the most senior civil servants.”

Return govt properties within 48 hours, gov orders Oyetola’s aides

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered former appointed officials of Oyetola to return government properties in their possession within 48 hours.

Governor Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed that the directive was sequel to the large-scale diversion of government assets by top officials of the immediate past administration.

The statement reads: “Several official vehicles are missing, while official records indicated that two third of former state officials left with a fleet of cars in their office. Any former official, who refuses to comply with the directive, will face the full weight of the law.”

You appear uncoordinated, APC tells Osun govt

But in a swift response, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State asked the PDP-led government to be specific about its allegations of asset stripping, so, he knows what he is responding to.

The APC Director of Operations, Sunday Akere said: “You set up a panel on this same asset matter yesterday. Is it that another committee has been set up in the office of the Governor? They should be specific and we will respond appropriately.”

Osun Assembly orders status quo on LG administration

Following the Executive Orders of local government administrations, the Osun State House of Assembly, yesterday, insisted that the status quo be maintained on the issue.

The Speaker, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Alabi, held that the position of the House of Assembly was purely from the point of law and not in any way antagonising the executive arm of government.

The statement reads: “On the issue of LG administration, Mr Owoeye informed the plenary of a notice of appeal against the decision of a Federal High Court judgment served on the 7th Assembly.

“The House, thereby, resolves that the issue of Local Government administration should be left to the court of law, ordering a status quo on all Local Government administration pending the exhaustion of all legal means.”

Be fair to all-OSUN TRADITIONALISTS

Meanwhile, the Traditional Religion Worshippers in Osun State, TRAWSO, yesterday, urged the Governor to be fair to all religious groups in the state, praying that his reign will witness peace and harmony in the state.

The traditionalists, in a statement by its Chairman, Dr Oluseyi Atanda said: “It is our prayer that your tenure will have religious harmony, tolerance of one and other and above all demonstration of equity and fairness to all.

“Our advice is for you to continue with the good works of the previous administrations, review and consult widely on other areas before modification.

“The name IMOLE must manifest and your Ori shall guide you to beam the searchlight and find the right path always”.’Some people thinking you’ll fail’

Similarly, a renowned clergyman, Apostle Lawrence Bamilaw, yesterday, warned Governor Adeleke to be focused on delivering good governance to the populace as some people are expecting him to fail.

Bamilaw, who spoke with newsmen, said: “Governor Adeleke needs to surprise the opposition and his supporters with his performance if he wants to have a head way in governance.

“Nobody thought he could be Governor of the state; therefore, he should try to surprise the Osun people with quality performance. Because some people said you cannot perform, you have to surprise them. Focus on your agenda, as the expectation is much.”

Two daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari, Zahra and Hanan were among other notable figures who joined women from Nigeria northwest to flag-off Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign in Katsina on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, their mother, Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who is the Grand Patron of the Tinubu-Shetima Women Presidential Campaign Team,
was represented at the ocassion by the wife of the APC Presidential candidate, Senator Remi Tinubu.

While addressing the northwestern women at the Katsina People’s Square where the flag-off held, Senator Remi thanked the Katsina Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and the good people of Katsina State for the years of friendship and support shown her husband over the years, assuring that they will not forsake the north if the party wins in 2023.

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She also prayed to God to grant Masari the wherewithal to continue to contribute to the wellbeing of our nation for many more years to come.
“I want to assure you that if you vote for us we will be there for you, we will be your partner in progress.

“We will do all it takes to see that the north west, even the northeast have peace in their border,” Senator Remi said.

On her part, the wife of the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Nana Shettima, who is also the Coordinator Northwest Zone Women Campaign Team
appealed to women from the zone to support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket from top to bottom come 2023 election.


Also, speaking at the flag-off, Masari assured that the people of Katsina State will stand by Tinubu till the end.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu is at home with us in Katsina State. He has been with us since before 1999. Its not like we have known him just yesterday. We have been with him for a very long time


“Katsina State is the home of APC and APC here in Katsina stand by him 100%. We stood by him before, we stand by him today and we will stand by him tomorrow,” Masari said.

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised to provide enough funds for education, praying that Nigerians will never witness a repeat of APC government beyond 2023, which he says brought untold hardship on Nigerians.


The PDP presidential candidate made this known at the party’s rally in Akure, Ondo state on Wednesday monitored by Vanguard.

He bemoaned the state of education in the country which he specifically blamed the ruling APC over what he described as poor policy which he vowed Nigerians would never witness a repeat beyond 2023 if he is voted for.

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Earlier, Titi Atiku, wife of the PDP presidential candidate, a native of Ondo state, also addressed the mammoth crowd where she promised the Ondo people that her husband will defeat Boko Haram and provide scholarships to students.

She said, “my people I, your daughter standing in your presence to tell that my husband has done it before. The last election was won by my husband but we were robbed. My husband indeed is a Fulani but he is not a killer and we have been together. I taught him our culture and tradition, and he is part of us. During Obasanjo, it was Atiku that brought the likes of Elrufai, Ngozi Okonjo-iweala and others who did well for Nigeria”


On his agenda she said, “Atiku will defeat Boko Haram and provide you with scholarships”

On why they need to vote Atiku, she noted that “No Yoruba has ever been a First Lady and if we vote Atiku, it’s a vote for Yoruba. There is hunger in the land, don’t let the opposition deceive you, vote all PDP candidates during election.” She pleaded.


Delta state governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa thanked the party leaders and the thousands of Ondo youths present at the rally.

He said, “ in the past 8 months the youths were at home and that shouldn’t be the case.
“Atiku has made provisions to ensure no University goes on strike as special attention would be placed on the youths of the country as well as set aside funds to support youths who would want to go into entrepreneurship.”
“As long as you vote Atiku, hunger and unemployment will be a thing of the past. Remain focused, go from school to school, house to house and campaign for Atiku,” He urged the crowd.

In his address, the PDP Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu urged the Ondo PDP support not to make a mistake but do the right thing by voting Atiku in the coming election.

He said, “Ondo is a PDP state. You are educated and enlightened people and that is why you always vote the PDP.”

Ayu further noted that, “We must work together to ensure victory. Ondo should give the PDP the highest votes in southwest.”
“The country is in a bad shape, you need an experience leader to fix the country. Atiku and Obasanjo fixed the economy in 1999 and Atiku is coming back to fix the mess APC has created. He will unify the country, there will be jobs and security.”

Earlier Presidential campaign chairman of Ondo state told PDP supporters that Atiku is in the state “on a thank you visit for the massive support he got in the past from the state.”

Chairman President campaign council, Sokoto state governor, Gov Aminu Tambuwal also thanked the people of Ondo for the 2019 support and the warm reception.

He said, “we are kicking off our southwest campaign in Ondo for obvious reasons. We were robbed in 2019, but we must thank you for giving us ur mandate.

“Atiku Abubakar is the most qualified candidate who has all the credentials to deliver and so we urge you to come out and vote massively for us.

Newly elected governor of Osun state, Nurudeen Adeleke told the Ondo people that the same light that appeared in Osun has also come to Ondo.
He urged the people to vote for Atiku. He said,” Atiku took one of your daughter as wife. We must vote Atiku. If we vote Atiku, I can assure you that poverty will end in the Southwest. Please go all out and tell everyone from house to house that the light has come to Ondo state.

Akwa Ibom governor, Gov Udom said there is only one message from the PDP which is to recover the nation.
He said, “ we have something to show, we have done this before. When we were in power, things were different. PDP is the only party that can provide power supply, food on the table and security.”
The PDP has continued to witness massive turnouts at its rally as its campaign train continues to tour the country ahead of the 2023 general election.

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has tasked the members of the panels and committees to track all looted public assets belonging to the state.


This is contained in a statement issued by Adeleke’s Spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday.


The governor gave the charge after inaugurating four panels in Osogbo to also review all appointments made after July 17 by the last administration.

Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Kola Adewusi, decried the widespread ”pillaging” of government assets.
”You must right the wrongs and discharge your mandates with sense of urgency.

”We assure the people that we will not back down on our resolve to stop all post July 17 illegalities,” he said, assuring that the state payroll pre-July 17 remains intact.

Adeleke said the state government has n-t sacked any worker on the Osun payroll.”Those with issues to explain are those who entered the payroll after July 17,” he said.


The review panels inaugurated by the governor include the Staff Audit/Appointments/Promotion Review Committee (Chaired by Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji), State Assests Inventory and Revovery Committee (Chaired by B. T. Salam).

Others are the Contracts/MoU/Agreements Review Committee (Chaired by Mr Niyi Owolade) and Chieftency Affairs Review Committee (Chaired by Bunmi Jenyo)

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has said that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate is currently in Abuja not in the United States as being speculated.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, APC PCC Director of Media and Publicity, said this in an interview with Newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to the speculation.
He described the picture making the rounds that Tinubu was in the U.S with President Joe Biden as fake, saying it should be disregarded.

“A viral photograph showing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and U.S President, Joe Biden in talks at the White House is the latest in the series of misinformation being dished out by the political opposition.

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“We cannot just fathom the purpose of the mischief and the falsehood which emanated from the rabid followers of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate.
“The apparently photo-shopped image surfaced Tuesday night, on the heels of news that Asiwaju will embark on a foreign trip this weekend,” he noted.


Onanuga said although America was listed among Tinubu’s destinations, according to an unofficial report that was widely shared, he could confirm that the APC presidential candidate was in Abuja all through Tuesday.
He added that Tinubu was in Abuja on Monday as well, and had no need to surreptitiously leave Nigeria like some other presidential candidates did.


He said the APC presidential candidate would be travelling to Bayelsa for a rally on Thursday, according to the party’s campaign programme.
“He is not scheduled to travel outside the country until the weekend for speaking engagements.

“His first port of call will be Chatham House in London, where he will speak on his Action Plan for Nigeria,” the APC PCC Director of Media and Publicity disclosed

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has dismissed rumours that he plans to relocate the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT from Abuja to Lagos.

The APC candidate accused the opposition of launching a multi-pronged desperate campaign of falsehoods against him.

Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday by the Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council PCC, Mr Bayo Onanuga added that unlike the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar, he (Tinubu) does not intend to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Company NNPC Limited to his friends.


According to him, the latest insidious campaign in some parts of the country against him is the handiwork of the PDP and Labour Party.

“After exhausting their arsenal of calumnies and character assassination against Tinubu, the opposition PDP and their surrogate Labour Party have begun a multi-pronged desperate campaign of falsehoods.


“In one of the falsehoods being circulated, especially in the North West of the country, Tinubu is said to harbour plans to relocate the Federal Capital from Abuja to Lagos on succeeding President Muhammad Buhari from 29th May, 2023”, he stated.

According to him, the misinformation campaign, according to field reports, is being given some traction by some elders on the payroll of the PDP.

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“We are shocked that some people could contrive such egregious lie, all in the name of politics, with the intention to confuse our burgeoning support base in that part of the country.

“Let us say with emphasis, that Asiwaju does not contemplate any such plan and will not do anything that is so ultra-unconstitutional.


“The same purveyors of falsehood have also been distorting the commercialization of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited by the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The truth is that President Buhari has not privatised NNPC as planned by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Buhari has instead made it a commercial entity, owned by all the tiers of government, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act”, he stated.

Tinubu noted that in due course, the company will be in a position to declare and share dividends to all its owners, the way Aramco of Saudi Arabia and Petrobas of Brazil do.

“As the destined successor of President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu will continue the policy of the Buhari administration. Unlike Atiku, Tinubu has no plan to sell NNPC to his friends or cronies”, he added.

OSOGBO—Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had a handful, yesterday, in his first 24 hours in office.


He dethroned three monarchs enthroned recently by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola; suspended the chairman and members of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC; and sacked via executive orders, no fewer than 12,000 workers recently employed by Oyetola.

The new governor also ran into a disagreement with the state legislators, on the legality of his executive orders over laws passed by the House, even as hoodlums unleashed mayhem in Osogbo, attacking motor parks, forcing Governor Adeleke to warn the citizenry against violence.


Dethroned monarchs

Few weeks to the end of his tenure, Oyetola appointed several monarchs, including the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Iree, Oba Ademola Oluponle; and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adegboyega Famodun.


The former governor also approved the appointment of 30 permanent secretaries in various ministries.

However, Adeleke in a statement by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, about 24 hours after his inauguration announced that the thrones of Akirun of Akirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo remain unoccupied, pending the outcome of a Committee of Inquiry to review their appointments and subsequent installations.


According to the statement, the six Executive Orders issued by the governor, which border on reversal of monarchs’ appointments, appointment and placement of civil servants, employment and freezing of government accounts had been signed and took immediate effect.

“All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akirun of Ikirun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. “Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.


“All employment in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards and parastatals after July 17th, 2022 are hereby nullified,” he said.

The governor, according to the statement, also ordered the reversal of appointments into civil service and directed heads of government agencies to embark on staff audits immediately.

“All Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals of Osun State Government are hereby directed to carry out an immediate staff audit of the actual number of government workers in their various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals, as at 17th July, 2022, and should file a report to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor stating the full details and position/designation of each of the staff on the forwarded list, within seven working days from the date of this Executive Order using the attached Oath of Fidelity Template.

“All appointments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after 17th July, 2022 be and are hereby reversed”, the statement read.

OSIEC chair, others suspended

Similarly, a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, ordered the immediate suspension of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC.

It reads: “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has directed the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan, and the following members of the Commission- Mr. Yusuf Oyeniran, Alhaja Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Mrs. Abosede Omibeku, Mr. Dosu Gidigbi and Mr. Wahab Adewoyin

“This suspension is sequel to several petitions bordering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said chairman and members of the commission.

“Pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations against the suspended chairman and members of the Commission, the secretary to the Commission shall hold fort in running the affairs of the commission.”

APC kicks

Meanwhile, Oluomo Sunday Akere, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and immediate past special adviser to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, described the Executive Orders as “childish and dictatorial.”

His words: “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP-led administration should accept the reality that the immediate past Governor Oyetola had the mandate of Osun State people till midnight Saturday 26th of November, 2022 and any action taken in his capacity as governor is covered by the laws of the land.

“For a governor to dabble into traditional matters in this way amounts to nothing but abuse of power and brazen politicisation of traditional institutions.

“If there are complaints against the process of selecting any Oba (monarch), what the new administration should do is to encourage the complaints to seek redress in the court of law. Instructing security operatives to lock up palaces amounts to an invitation to chaos and breakdown of law and order. No governor has such a power and we will not hesitate to call the attention of elders in the state to this as a matter of urgency so as to call this government to order.

“We have had governments here before and none has ever taken this sort of dictatorial approach to issues of the state and traditional matters.”

Osun Assembly battle Adeleke over executive order, state anthem, slogan, crest

However, the Osun State House of Assembly has questioned the propriety of Governor Adeleke’s reversal of the state name from ‘State of the virtuous’ to ‘State of the Living Spring’ via Executive Order.

The House also stressed that rendition of the State Anthem and usage of its crest were creations of the law rather than a matter of choice.

Governor Adeleke replaced the state crest with the Nigerian coat of arms on the official pulpit of the state while the state anthem was recited at official functions on Monday.

The Assembly in a statement by the Chairman, Committee on Media and Publicity, Kunle Akande, said that the State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law 2012 was assented to on December 18, 2012 contained in Schedule I, Il, Ill, IV and V.

It reads: “The State of Osun House of Assembly having reviewed the inaugural speech of the Governor and the activities of the inauguration hereby resolves as follows; The usage of the State Anthem, Crest and Flag is an enactment of law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.

“The enactment ‘State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012’ assented to on the 18th of December, 2012 contained in Schedule I, Il, Ill, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity.

“Schedule I is the State Anthem, Schedule II has to do with the State Crest, Schedule III is the symbolic significance of the elements in the Flag.

“Lastly, while we are aware of a court judgment in effect recognizing “Osun State”, the Assembly, pending the determination and exhaustion of all legal means, would not be drawn into this matter.

“However, the State shall and will continue to be described as the State of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi)”.

Osun workers

receive Adeleke

with pomp,

pageantry

Workers in the service of Osun State Government, yesterday, received the new Governor on his first day in office amid pomp and ceremony at the state government secretariat entrance.

The governor was escorted by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftains and supporters from Imole House, Ogo-Oluwa area to the secretariat, thereby creating gridlock on the popular Osogbo-Gbongan road.

On approaching the Secretariat gate around 12:22pm, the waiting workers trooped to the roadside to catch a glance of the governor, who acknowledged cheers from workers through the sun roof of his SUV.

New SSG, Chief of Staff sworn in

The Governor, who had earlier sworn in the new Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Teslim Igbalaye and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Kasim Akinleye, described their appointment as reward for loyalty and readiness to serve the people.

He emphasised that his government will continue to reward loyalty and commitment to duty.

In his acceptance speech, the new secretary to the state government, Igbalaye, pledged to use his office to actualise the five cardinal programmes of Governnor Adeleke, and “called on those that will still be appointed by the governor to be prepared to work as a team towards moving Osun State forward.”

Hoodlums on

rampage in

Osogbo, attacks

motor parks

Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital were yesterday morning thrown into apprehension as hoodlums launched attacks on different motor parks across the town.

It was gathered that the attacks were launched simultaneously around 8am at Oke-Baale, Old-Garage, Ilesa Garage and Aregbe Garage against members of transport unions at the parks.

The parks were dominated by leaders loyal to the APC-led administration that just completed its tenure in the state.
Union members at Old-Garage were chased from the park towards the Ayetoro area of the town as sounds of gunshots pervaded the atmosphere.

One of the union members was lucky to have escaped at Ayetoro with matchet cuts and his car was set ablaze. Shop owners hurriedly closed their shops, while school gates were locked.
Attacks were also launched on union members at Oke-Baale, Aregbe garage, and Ilesa garage with a view to effecting a change of leadership which was said to have been resisted by the present leadership.

Governor warns against violence

Reacting to the development, Governor Adeleke, in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, directed union leaders to maintain peace across parks, warning against violence.

“The Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has warned against violence among transport workers’ unions in the state, directing security agencies to maintain status quo across the motor parks.
“All union leaders and their supporters are hereby directed to remain calm and bring any grievances to the state government for resolution. Security agencies are consequently directly to maintain law and order,” the statement read.

Attacks inhuman, barbaric — Osun APC

Condemning the attacks by suspected thugs, the party in a statement by its Deputy Chairman, Sooko Taju Lawal, said: “The pre-meditated attacks in Osogbo, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Iwo, Ila-Orangun, Ijebu-Jesa and other towns in the state which erupted immediately after the swearing in of the new PDP governor is an indication that the Governor Adeleke-led administration is not capable of constitutionally protecting the lives and property of the state.”

Lawal stated that the attacks on innocent members of the public by the PDP hoodlums were “inhuman, inconsiderate, barbaric and pungently oppressive.”

He disclosed that there are reports indicating that a number of people have been attacked and wounded with vehicles either burnt down and innocent people being harassed within the 48 hours of the existence of the PDP administration in the state, the development was an indication that the helmsman of the new administration is putting on a proverbial over-sized shoes.

The APC chieftain urged the police authorities and other security agencies in the state “to double up their efforts in discharging their statutory duties that have to do with the security of lives and property.”
“It was a pity that the Osun PDP and Governor Adeleke have chosen willful injection of hostility and violence as the hallmark of their new administration where innocent people were being needlessly attacked and harassed without any just cause.

“It was sad indeed that it was booming of guns and crying of attacks and molestation of members of the APC in the state that heralded the administration of Governor Adeleke’s administration.
“We enjoin the state House of Assembly to take a decisive step on how peace and sanity could be brought back to the hitherto one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.”

The FCT Police Command has denied the arrest of one Aminu Mohammed a 500 level student of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa state

Reports had it that Muhammad, was arrested for posting a tweet written in Hausa and accompanied by a photo of the first lady, allegedly mocking the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari.


The tweet which was written in Hausa and accompanied by a photo of the first lady, when interpreted in English reads, “Mama has eaten poor people’s money and is now full.”

Shortly after the tweet, Muhammad was reported arrested by operatives of the DSS resulting to an outrage in the social media.

When contacted on the development Public Relations Officer of FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh told Vanguard she was not aware of the student’s arrest by the Police Command.