₦airaland Forum

Bashir El-rufai[size=8pt][/size], son of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-rufai, has told the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to re-direct its invitation for the 2020 Annual General Conference to opposition politicians.

The body of legal practitioners in the country had invited the Kaduna helmsman to the event as a speaker but the invitation was greeted with criticism, mostly from Nigerians on social media. A petition seeking his disengagement was also forwarded to the association.

The development forced the NBA to withdraw the invitation extended to the governor who then described it as unfair.

“For an association, whose bread and butter is about justice to make a ruling based on the stridency of people who lampoon judicial processes against certain individuals without hearing the other side is odd,” the governor, through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said in a Thursday statement.

“It bears noting that in its response to pressure, the NBA leadership has signaled an unfortunate embrace of injustice, unfairness, absence of fair hearing and total disregard for the rule of law.

“The defamatory statements in the petition is another matter entirely, and they will get the appropriate response,” he added.

On his part, the governor’s son, described the invitation which his father would have honored as useless.

In a Friday tweet, the young lad advised that it be re-directed to Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State and Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State.

“These guys should re-direct their useless invitation to Nyesom Wike or Ayodele Fayose. The true respecters of Rule of Law & decorum. Make the conference have a uniform theme of speakers,” he said in the morning tweet.

These guys should re-direct their useless invitation to Nyesom Wike or Ayodele Fayose. The true respecters of Rule of Law & decorum. Make the conference have a uniform theme of speakers.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, says those who see nothing good in the administration of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, need prayers.

Mr Adesina stated this in an article he wrote yesterday, says critics have resorted to hating the achievements of the president rather than deny its existence, which according to him, was the case earlier.

The special adviser to the president on media and publicity had recently advised Nigerians to calm down if they actually wants to see the president’s achievements.

In the piece published on his website, he listed on going rail projects, rebranding of airports, bridges, rice revolution, health care centres, among others, as positive achievements of his principal which Nigerians have refused to acknowledged.

“At that point, you pity them. You realize that they need prayers. They hate everything good. They hate anything uplifting. They hate development. They hate their country. They even hate themselves,” Mr Adesina said.

Mr Buhari, a retired general of the Nigerian Army, came to power democratically in 2015 when he defeated then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, in the historic election.

He had promised to fight corruption, secure lives and properties and boast the economy. When he was sworn in, the president refused to appoint ministers saying he was searching for competent hands. Analysts say his action led the economy into recession, although his blamed the past administration for the economic meltdown.

Although he started well in the fight against corruption, including taking the war to the judiciary adjudged to be corrupt, he seems to be loosing it. He and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) have shielded most of his cronies and allies accused of corruption.

On security, criminal activities are on the rise nationwide, coming from different angles than what it used to be during his predecessor days. While the attacks from Boko Haram terrorists have reduced, violent herdsmen, bandits, kidnappers among others are having a field day. Calls for him to sack service chiefs over rising insecurity have also fell on deaf ears.

Ghali Na’Abba, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, has made public the discussion he had with the Department of State Services (DSS).

Mr Na’Abba was invited by the DSS over recent criticism of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He had last week Thursday said the country was becoming a failed state under the president.

A day after that remark, he was invited to appear before the secret police today. While the invitation was linked to his comments, the presidency said preliminary findings showed he was not invited over the criticism.

But addressing reporters after honouring the invitation, the former lawmaker said he was asked to explain some of the words he used while criticising the Nigerian leader, adding that his stood by his words.

“I did not disown anything I said. I will never mince my words. Whatever I see as the truth I say it,” he told reporters Monday evening in Abuja.

“And that is what I said in my interview and said during the press conference. And I can never say anything that is not the truth.

“What happened was there were certain words that appeared in my address and interview which needed some clarifications and which clarification, I made.

“We were both satisfied with what happened. We advised one another. The DSS have their own job and their own experience. I too have my own vocation also have my own experience. And we felt highly enriched by our experiences.

“That is how things are supposed to be. It went successfully. I enjoyed my stay there. I had no problems with the way they received me.

“In my address I used the words ‘failed state’ and ‘self determination’. When we say out words, what we mean may be different from what other persons perceive and that was what happened.

“Self-determination simply in our own context means Nigerians must be allowed to live the way they want to live.

“It does not mean the mean dismemberment of the country. A lot of times from security point of view when you say self-determination it is meant that it is the dismemberment of the country, which is not so. This needed clarification.

“Failed state is any state that cannot provide a lot of services. What happened was that in their own opinion I did not use the words appropriately and it is only human to use words not appropriately and I told them that what I meant there is that the indices that characterise a failed state are prevalent with us,” he added.

seunmsg:
Very correct to the extent that APC cannot participate. However, APC can decide to support the candidate of another party who will then decamp to the party after election. The party may also explore the possibility of getting one of the candidates of the smaller parties to withdraw and then substitute with David Lyon.

Ikenga Ugochinyere, a political activist and legal practitioner, has said the All Progressive Congress (APC) cannot take part if a fresh governorship election is conducted in Bayelsa State.


The Bayelsa State Election Tribunal had today nullified the election which brought Duoye Diri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last year exercise, to power.

Mr Diri was declared winner by the Supreme Court, after the apex court cancelled the votes of David Lyon, candidate of the APC in the election. The academic credentials of his running mate and then deputy governor-elect Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, beared discrepancies when perused by the apex court.

After today’s ruling, supporters of the APC in Bayelsa State began jubilating, saying the development affords their candidate another chance of testing his popularity.

In his reaction, Ugochinyere is of the opinion that if the verdict of the tribunal is not upturned at the Supreme Court, the APC, by the verdict of the apex court on it and its candidates, cannot participate in the fresh exercise.


He said the order for a fresh election within 90 days does not translate into beginning the electoral process afresh and for the substitution of candidates.

He argued that the Supreme Court verdict on the APC and its candidates remains binding despite a fresh election being conducted.

“One of the implications of the Judgment of the Bayelsa Governorship Tribunal nullifying the election of Governor Douye Diri assuming if not vacated by the Supreme Court is that in the event of fresh election the APC is still excluded from participating in view of the supreme Judgment declaring their nomination of David Lyon and his deputy as invalid,” the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Party (CUPP).

“A fresh election within 90 days as previous courts have held is not an invitation to open fresh nomination or even make substitution because the time frames for that has already been exhausted, but a fresh poll for the purpose of including the excluded candidate to join other validly nominated candidates who met the requirements of nomination before the close of the window for nomination,” he said.

Adams Oshiomhole, the erstwhile national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has now described the Edo State gubernatorial candidate of the party, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as a true leader.

This was not the case in the last four years when Mr Ize-Iyamu sought to be governor of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state had at the time verbally attacked the current APC candidate, describing him as a thief unworthy of handling public funds.

The APC chieftain had also described the former Secretary to the State Government as a political thug who is good for midnight meetings and this explained for why he refused giving him appointment despite heading his campaign organisation when he himself held sway.

But following his rival with his successor, Godwin Obaseki, whom he helped enthrone and ensured he was disqualified from using the party’s platform for re-election, Oshiomhole has resorted to admiring his party’s candidate whom he said was rusticated for pouring acid on his colleague during his days in the university.

In a Saturday tweet, the former governor has described Ize-Iyamu as a true leader who the people of Edo State are yearning for.

“Edo People can’t wait to have a true leader in the person of Pastor Ize Iyamu,” Oshiomhole said Saturday morning, adding that, “The love from the people is simply amazing.”

Mr Obaseki, who became governor on the platform of the APC is now the governorship candidate of the PDP, after being disqualified by his former party on the basis that the same academic credentials he presented to them when he sought the position is now deceptive.

Although there are other candidates from other political parties, the race is widely seen as a contest between messrs Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu.

The relatives of Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has reportedly endorsed Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as their preferred candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.


By their actions, they have decided to back an outsider rather than their own who is currently seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The endorsement, according to Sun Newspapers, took place at the private residence of the Mr Ize-Iyamu in the state capital and was led by Victor Obaseki, said to be the governor’s cousin.

“I am here today in company of my cousins to support Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu,” Obaseki said.

“Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, the executive governor, is our cousin. Generally, the Obasekis have their own way of doing things; we are a different branch of faith, we are supporting our brother, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu with an unalloyed support fully for him.

“I have supported him before, and I would continue to support him, we would do all our campaigns for him without let or hindrance, fully from the bottom of our hearts”, he said‎.

Responding, the APC candidate expressed his gratitude to his visitors, whom he said, have been close to him for a long time.

“Let me thank you for the endorsement. I have known some of you for many years and I am very happy that politics has not strained our relationship,” Ize-Iyamu said.

ylaa:
Let's be sincere joor, with what is killings going on in the country, it's more than enough to spark a revolution. Besides what the Herdsmen are doing, is it not worst than a revolution? Nonsense.

Omoyele Sowore, convener of the RevolutionNow Movement and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare, have finally been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The duo were arraigned on the amended two-count charge bordering on treasonable felony. The Federal Government had earlier initiated a seven-count charge against them but amended the charges on Wednesday.

Sowore and Bakare have pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

More details later…

nairalandankrah:
FAKE NEWS FROM LAGOS/ IBADAN GUTTER MEDIA...believe this at your own stupidity..
Haba....allow the guy to apologize by himself nah..must you arrange an apology on his behalf.

The famous Unity Fountain in Abuja has been closed down for repairs and upgrade.

This was known in a statement by Anthony Ogunleye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mohammad Bello.

The statement released on Tuesday said the closure of the edifice is temporary as it will be reopened to the public on completion of the upgrade.

The premises is usually being used by Nigerians for anti-government protests.

“The FCT Administration has viewed with concern the state of several parks and gardens including the Unity Fountain along Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama,” the statement read.

“It is against this background and the symbolic nature of the unity fountain as a location symbolizing the oneness of the Nigerian people, that the FCT Administration has deemed it expedient to upgrade this facility.

“As a result, the unity fountain will be closed for this upgrade for between 60-90 days to allow for construction work which will include the provision of a car park, landscaping, and perimeter fencing,” it added.

President Muhammadu Buhari has turned Nigeria’s seat of power to a house of comedy, says the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The opposition party stated this in reaction to the latest fued at the presidential villa involving Aisha Buhari, the first lady, and some members of the president’s extended family.

Mrs Buhari recently narrated how members of her husband’s extended family humiliated her when she attempted gaining access to an apartment allocated to her son at the presidential villa.

Reacting to the incident, the PDP said the development shows an abuse of office, disorganization and incompetence on the part of the president and also advised him to apologize to Nigerians.

“The feud further uncovers the impunity, disorderliness and vanity that pervade the Buhari Presidency and how the once serious and productive seat of power has been turned into a house of comedy and an overcrowded quarter for illegal occupants,” a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the opposition, partly read.

“Nigerians can now see why it has become difficult for our nation to witness any stability or progress under the Buhari Presidency and why the Buhari-led Federal Government has been bedeviled by confusion, infighting, policy flip-flops, statutory violations, promotion of violence, ingrained corruption and administrative indolence while millions of Nigerians wallow in poverty and neglect.

“Nigerians and the world can equally see why no one expects the Buhari Presidency to articulate any progressive idea or proffer and implement any solution to the myriad of economic and security problems it caused our nation; they can now see why there is no hope in sight and why compatriots are daily agitating for a new order.

“Our party notes that our dear nation has suffered enough disgrace from the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP therefore charges President Buhari to immediately apologize to Nigerians for his failures and be ready to vacate office for more competent hands, since it has become obvious that he is leading our country to nowhere,” it added.

While calling on Nigerians to remain calm, the opposing camp also urged the National Assembly to sanitize the Presidential villa by probing allegations of illegal allotment of offices and apartments to unauthorized persons, including scammers and corruption fronts in Aso Rock.

ManirBK:
A crime is a crime,is a crime. Let's stop tribalizing crime out of share hatred of a tribe,visiting the sins of an insignificant few on a whole tribe. There is no greater way to destroy relationships and this nation as a whole. It's a calamity for this nation if at 59 we have learnt nothing and still fanning the embers of hatred instead of building bridges. There is no tribe without its criminals and bad eggs in the country. Let non be condemned because of its criminal elements. Let every crime be punished according to the law.

Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate, has demanded an apology from Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) over the latter’s comments on defection.

Mr Falana, a Human Rights activist, had at a public gathering on Monday, claimed the Young Progressive Party (YPP) candidate in the last general election has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The activist also said the ruling party has assigned a portfolio to Moghalu.

But dismissing the claim as untrue, the former presidential candidate who dumped his party said he is not a member of any political party at the moment and has not been handed any portfolio.

“These statements are false. I am not a member of the APC. I have not been given any appointment by the APC government. This effort to malign my character and reputation, by an individual I have always respected, was a complete shock to me,” a statement he signed partly read.

“It is surprising that a man of Mr. Falana’s standing, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria no less, could make such weighty statements without verification.

“I demand and expect an apology and a public retraction of this falsehood from Mr. Falana,” Moghalu said while disparaging media houses that aired the claim of the lawyer.

Why I dumped YPP

He explained that after the elections he has moved into advocacy for electoral/political reforms and voter education in Nigeria and this is responsible for his decision to dump the YPP.

“I contested in the 2019 presidential election as the flag bearer of the the Young Progressives Party (YPP). Since the elections I have convened To Build a Nation (TBAN), a non-partisan citizens’ movement focused on advocacy for electoral/political reforms and voter education in Nigeria.

“In order to strengthen the integrity of the movement’s non-partisan stance, I recently announced my resignation from the YPP. I am NOT a member of any political party,” he explained.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to ensure his wife, Aisha, is protected from further been assaulted by his extended family members.

The advise is coming from a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, who earlier cautioned Nigerians against meddling into the affairs of the first family.

Mrs Buhari recently narrated how members of her husband’s extended family humiliated her when she attempted gaining access to an apartment allocated to her son at the presidential villa.

Reacting to the incident, the former minister advised the president to ensure the first lady is further shielded from attacks by other members of his relatives.

The politician said there is nothing that will prompt him to treat his wife the way the first lady was being treated.

“No matter what she does or what she subjects me to I will never allow anyone to disrespect my wife in the way that Fatima disrespected @aishambuhari,” Fani-Kayode said in a tweet on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: How fake news started in Nigeria - Aisha Buhari
“It is a matter of honor. As long as she is under my roof she has my protection even when she errs. @MBuhari pl protect your wife,” he added.

The incident in which the wife of the president was humiliated is largely seen as the continuation of power tussle between the first lady and an alleged cabals whom she has ceaselessly accused of hijacking the administration of her husband.

sarrki:
Aisha is a power drunk

Acting for the likes of your hero kwankwaso and other nothern oligarchs that want power to remain in the north

Patience Jonathan is more concerned about stealing us dry

sarrki:
That’s the gospel truth

Pmb family is not big brother naija

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has cautioned Nigerians to steer clear from the power tussle involving the family members of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Fani-Kayode gave the advice while reacting to the latest squabble between the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and the children of her husband’s nephew.

According to Mrs Buhari, the children of Mamman Daura, nephew of President Muhammadu Buhari, humiliated her while she attempted to gain access to an apartment allocated to her son.

Advising Nigerians to mind their businesses, Fani-Kayode said the issue is a private one and should be treated as such.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, however described Fatima Daura, daughter of the president’s nephew who admitted filming the incident said to have took place a year ago, as shameless.

“I never make comments about the wives and children of my political adversaries because I do not think that it is right or proper,” Fani-Kayode said in series of tweets Tuesday morning.

“However I must say the following: those who recorded and leaked the video of @aishambuhari loosing her cool in the Villa are shameless and despicable.

“What happens in the home of @MBuhari is a private matter and it is not anyone else’s business.There ought to be a certain level of decency and decorum even in politics.

“What happens between Buhari,his wife and children is entirely their problem.We should leave his family alone,” the former minister added.

The politician also said that Fatima is still walking freely despite all that transpired lay credence to the fact that there exist a cabal whom the first lady has ceaselessly accused of hijacking her husband’s administration.

“No matter what you feel about @MBuhari filming his wife whilst in melt-down mode in Aso Villa and releasing it to the public is sheer wickedness. That this was done by Mamman Daura’s daughter speaks volumes. Had it been anyone else they would have been in the cooler by now!” Fani-Kayode added.

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s President, has accused Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sponsoring fake news against his government.

Messrs Buhari and Abubakar are presidential candidates of the two major political parties who are participating in next year’s election.

The president is the flag-bearer of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) while the PDP flag-bearer, a former vice president popularly known as Atiku is his major challenger.

The duo recently engaged themselves in accusation and counter-accusation of smuggling looted funds into the country.

In this latest accusation of sponsoring fake news, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) says the act shows the PDP candidate is desperate for the exalted office.

BMO said since Atiku have no issues to put forward in his campaign he has resorted to sponsoring fake news items aimed at tarnishing and frustrating the efforts of the government and its agencies.

“Atiku Abubakar’s desperation knows no bounds; his recent moves to sponsor narrative through fake news that paint Nigeria’s security personnel as weak and incapable of carrying out their duties, is an example of the PDP candidate’s desperation and lack of patriotism,” the group said in a statement jointly signed by Niyi Akinsiju and Cassidy Madueke, respective Chairman and Secretary.

“The PDP campaign, finding no fault in the current leadership of the Nigerian Army, had begun sponsoring old videos from 2014 with the aim of selling a narrative that suggests that the military under President Buhari has not been well-taken care of like it was during their 16 year rule of malfeasance.”

The group said further that a recent report by an American firm making unbacked claims that the recently slain former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, was killed to hide corruption under the current Defence leadership was fake news and the handiwork of Mr Brian Ballard, the United States lobbyist Atiku procured at $90,000 a month.

“It is shameful that a former Vice President of Nigeria would procure the service of an American lobby firm to sponsor fake news aimed at attacking the morale and credibility of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

“This goes to emphasize the fact that Mr Abubakar does not have Nigeria’s interest at heart and must be kept far away from the seat of power. The PDP has nothing to sell to Nigerians; it has a candidate who is notorious for corruption allegations and is distrusted across the globe; asides being the candidate of a party responsible for the pillage of Nigeria’s treasury,” BMO said.

Ejike Mbaka, the spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, has been blasted for endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

The blast is coming from Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister who described the cleric as an agent of Satan.

Mr Mbaka, a Catholic priest, had on Tuesday endorsed Mr Buhari who is seeking a second term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

Prior to the 2015 election, the cleric had endorsed the APC flag bearer while he was in the opposition.

Buhari who ran the race against an incumbent president defeated former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in the historic election. It was also the first time an opposition candidate would win a presidential election in the country.

Kicking against the cleric’s endorsement, the former minister said he was now convinced Mbaka is of the devil.

He quoted where the cleric said if God did not prefer the president to go back to office, the almighty being would have took the life of the Nigerian leader.

“If God does not want Buhari he could have died”- Father Mbaka.

“Short man devil has spoken! I am convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that this creature from the 7th circle of hell is an agent of satan,” Fani-Kayode said in a tweet on Wednesday.

“He is worse than Rasputin: he thrives on falsehood and reeks of sulphur!” he added.

The former minister is a known critic of the Buhari administration. He attacks virtually anyone who supports the government.