Politics

Gunmen abduct Nasarawa Deputy Governor’s driver

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Daniel Ogoshi, the official driver of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, has been abducted by suspected kidnappers.

It was gathered Ogoshi was taken from the residence of his friend around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, April 18, at Ombi 2, college of Agric, Kwandere road, Lafia, leaving his phone and car behind.

A family friend, who confirmed the incident to The Nation, said he received a call around 9 pm that his brother had been taken away by kidnapped.

The family friend immediately alerted the police who rushed to the scene but the kidnappers had already fled with the victim.

The media officer to the Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Eyima, confirmed the incident, saying he was informed about the situation but did not have adequate information on what had transpired.

The spokesperson of the Nasarawa Police command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, also confirmed the incident and said that the police is on top of the matter.

He, however, stated that he will not comment further on the issue until proper verification had been done.

Politics

I contested against enemies of democracy outside Adamawa and not a woman – Fintiri speaks after being re-elected as Governor

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Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has said that he contested the Adamawa governorship election against “enemies of democracy” in Abuja and not Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Tuesday, April 18, in an interview with Channels Television after his victory, Fintiri said those against his re-election wanted a woman to become governor without considering his performance.

Commenting on the drama-filled election, Fintiri said;

“I don’t think I have run against any woman in Adamawa State, I ran against enemies of democracy outside Adamawa State.

“I contested against the whole system, I contested against those who feel they own Nigeria from Abuja and they feel they can make Adamawa a scapegoat.

“Even in the election, I didn’t go into the election against the woman, I went into the election against INEC. The whole presiding officers that were conducting the election, all of them were APC members.

“Our people love us. They voted for continuity of excellent, rural and urban development. They voted for human and capital development that we had laid a very good foundation for.”

Fintiri also vowed to ensure the prosecution of all those involved in the election fiasco.

He added;

“Time will tell if these people will be properly prosecuted.

“But if they don’t prosecute these criminalities that took place in Adamawa state, I’m going to prosecute them.”

Politics

Binani denies offering N2bn to be declared winner of Adamawa governorship election

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Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa, has denied offering a N2bn bribe to an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be declared winner of the election.

Recall that the collation of the election result was suspended for some days after Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Commission (INEC) declared Binani as the winner when the results from the remaining LGAs had not been announced.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was announced as winner of the election after collation resumed on Tuesday, April 18.

Reacting to allegation of offering the sum of N2 billion to “procure a favourable declaration as governor-elect to some unnamed INEC staff”, Binani stated that the report is “very bizarre, unfounded and wild allegations”.

She said;

“I never did, I would never do such. I wish to reiterate that I am a democrat. I have always been a committed democrat and will never do anything to subvert the democratic process. I am not a do-or-die politician. In the past, I have won elections into the house of representatives and the senate in a free and fair manner.

“What happened in Adamawa was an unsuccessful attempt to subvert the will of the people. The REC was illegally told to stand down by two INEC national commissioners from Abuja who were supposed to be in Adamawa in a supervisory capacity.

Even more curious is the nocturnal visit of some INEC national officers to the Adamawa state government house and the bizarre declaration the same day after the visit that they have taken over the collation through the backdoor with the collation and returning officers selected by the governor of Adamawa.

“The roles of these INEC officers from Abuja and the real mission of the two to the government house should be of interest to all democrats. I urge all lovers of democracy to take a deeper interest in our electoral process and democracy not only in Adamawa but in the whole country.”

She also thanked her supporters for their “unflinching support in the midst of half-truths and opposition smear propaganda”.

Politics

Court declines Aisha Binani’s request to be recognised as Adamawa governor-elect

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A division of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has declined Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru’s request to be recognised as Adamawa governors-elect.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling on Tuesday, ordered applicant counsel Mohammed Sheriff to address if the court has a jurisdiction to handle the matter before adjourning the case till April 26.

Hudu Yunusa Ari, the rogue Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Adamawa State, sidestepped the INEC returning officer, Mele Kyari, to declare Aishatu Binani of the APC as the winner of the rerun election on Saturday.

INEC dissociated itself from Mr Yunusa Ari’s illegal pronouncement, nullifying it. However, Mrs Binani approached the court seeking that the fraudulent declaration be upheld.

Mrs Binani, in the suit she jointly filed with her party, the All Progressives Congress, on April 17 and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/510/2023, said the court should immediately review INEC’s nullification of the exercise, arguing that the electoral office lacked the powers to reverse a declaration.

INEC said it has written the inspector general of police, Usman Baba, to investigate and prosecute Mr Yunusa-Ari for illegally declaring APC gubernatorial flag bearer Aishatu Dahiru, winner in Saturday’s supplementary elections.

Politics

INEC has lost sense of normal decorum and has chosen to throw the country into anarchy or even possibly into civil war – Babachir Lawal

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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the recent supplementary elections conducted in Adamawa State and other parts of Nigeria.

Lawal who appeared in an interview on Arise TV, alleged that the electoral commission has lost sense of normal decorum and has chosen to “throw the country into anarchy or even possibly into civil war.”

He said;

“They [INEC] have lost sense of normal consciences, normal decorum. They have thrown due process, law and order out of the door. So I don’t know what else is remaining for INEC to redeem its image.

“I am sorry to say this because I was one of those who, over the years, canvassed the view that INEC should be trusted on account of my previous experiences and knowledge of the working of INEC, but in this election season, they have chosen to throw all caution to the winds.

“Whatever it is that is driving them, I don’t know, but something I know is an image they will leave for their children to pay because it is completely disgraceful. It is like they have chosen to be enemies of the country.

“They have chosen to throw the country into anarchy or even possibly into civil war by what they have done by the palaver manner in which they go about their duties to the citizens of the country. So that is my new opinion of INEC.”

Politics

Dino Melaye’s victory is ‘fraudulent’- says aggrieved PDP guber aspirant

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Abayomi Awoniyi, one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kogi governorship aspirants, says the party’s Sunday primary election is not credible and the victory of Dino Melaye fraudulent.

He said this in a statement on Monday in Lokoja, adding that the election was not free, fair or credible as it was marred by fraud.

Mr Melaye emerged as the PDP candidate for the November 11 governorship election.

Ahmed Makarfi, the chairman of the PDP primary election committee said Mr Melaye scored 313 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ilona Idoko-Kingsley who scored 124 votes at the primary. But Mr Awoniyi, a former Kogi deputy governor, said the election was not credible.

“This has led to the PDP in Kogi State, fluffing a great opportunity of winning back the state from the ruling party,” he said.

Mr Awoniyi said the delegates’ list was manipulated, with authentic delegates’ names from Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu and Ijumu council areas replaced.

“Without an iota of doubt, I make bold to say Melaye’s victory is a pyrrhic one. This victory portends great danger to the unity of our party and the prospect of winning the Nov. 11 governorship election. The reason for this assertion is simple. The primary that threw up Melaye was flawed,” claimed the former deputy governor.

He added;

“About 158 delegates who emerged from the state ad hoc congress of March 29, were replaced by the Senator Abdul Ningi congress committee working in concert with Melaye’s enablers within the party hierarchy at the highest level. To gift any aspirant, a total of 158 votes in a contest for 739 votes involving eight aspirants is not a fair contest. It is fraudulent, duplicitous, sinful, and unwholesome because it confers undue advantage on the favoured aspirant.”

Mr Awoniyi insisted that “Senator Dino Melaye won a fraudulent primary.”

Stressing, “What we have today in Kogi, is discontent within the PDP rank and file, and some measure of elation within the other political party.”

The disgruntled aspirant further stated, “This pyrrhic victory may look like a fait accompli, but the dust is unlikely to settle even beyond the November 11 governorship election.”

Lifestyle, Politics

NPC inaugurates committees for population census in Plateau

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The National Population Commission (NPC) has inaugurated security, logistics and publicity committees in Plateau ahead of the 2023 national population and housing census.

NPC federal commissioner in the state, Cecilia Dapoet, said during the inauguration in Jos on Monday that the committees were set up to programme and control information flow for public awareness and ensure security for even distribution of men and materials needed for the census.

According to her, the 19-member committee on census publicity can mobilise citizens for the all-important national project.

“Similarly, the 17-man committee on security and logistics consists of professionals in relevant fields, whose role is significant to the success of the census,” she said.

Ms Dapoet said the 2023 census should represent a sense of renewed hope for the people of the state and provide an opportunity to correct the errors of the past that were greeted with protests following the outcome of the 2006 census that claimed the state was undercounted.

She appealed to stakeholders to contribute their quota in ensuring every person was counted, promising that the NPC in Plateau would organise a credible census.

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, while inaugurating the committees, charged members to be committed to discharging their duties and ensuring smooth and successful exercise.

Mr Lalong, represented by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Danladi Atu, said the census had many advantages, such as providing clear demographic and socio-economic data of the people, thereby helping in planning and decision making.

He added that the committees were saddled with carrying out public enlightenment and soliciting support for the census and its processes.

Others are: mobilising resources and materials, promoting institutional collaboration and implementing effective publicity strategies for the census.

“The Security and Logistics Committee will help in maintaining public peace and order around census activities and personnel.

“It will also help in securing National Population Commission offices, vehicles and equipment, among others,” he said.

The chairman of the publicity committee, Dan Manjang, in an acceptance speech, promised to work dutifully for the success of the census.

The census will be held from May 3 to 7.

Politics

PDP wins Rivers supplementary election in two federal constituencies

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Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were on Sunday declared winners of Saturday’s election rerun in the Khana/Gokhana and Port Harcourt City council area.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its Returning Officer for Khana/Gokhana Constituency, Kingsely Owete, declared the result at Bori, Rivers.

Mr Owete said Dunameme Dekor, the PDP candidate in Khana/Gokana federal constituency, who won the constituency’s election rerun, satisfied the requirements of the law.

He said Mr Dekor won with 18,641 votes ahead of his closest rival, Friday Nkeeh, of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 10,165 votes.

Mr Dekor thanked the people of the Khana/Ghokana constituency for electing him, adding that he would attract development to his constituency.

INEC also declared Blessing Amadi as the PDP winner of the election in the Port Harcourt City local council area federal constituency 2 (PHALGHA 2).

Ms Amadi thanked the people of PHALGHA 2 for their support and pledged her commitment to the constituency’s development.

She also commended INEC for ensuring that the BVAS machines functioned properly.

Collins Owhonda, the All Progressives Congress candidate in Rivers, withdrew from the race 24 hours before the election and announced his defection to the PDP.

Politics

APC’s Aisha Binani declared winner of Adamawa governorship election

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared APC Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani the winner of the Adamawa governorship election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Hudu Yunusa made the declaration this morning, April 16, following the supplementary election held on Saturday, April 15.

Results from 10 out of the 20 local government areas were declared on Saturday while the remaining would be announced today.

However, the REC announced the final result an hour before the scheduled time. The incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was leading before the pronouncement was made.

Some PDP supporters in the hall had protested why the announcement was made by the REC instead of the returning officer.

Politics

Achonu emerges Labour Party guber candidate in Imo

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Ex-senator, Athan Achonu, who represented Imo North Senatorial District, on Saturday night, emerged as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the Nov.11 governorship election in Imo.

Declaring the results in Owerri, the chairman of the electoral panel and Abia governor-elect, Alex Otti, said Mr Achonu polled 134 votes.

Mr Otti said Mr Achonu defeated his closest rival, Maj.-Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe, who scored 121 votes.Other contestants, including Martin Agbaso garnered 13, Basil Maduka got one vote, Ibe Ike polled three votes, Sam Amadi received four votes and retired Capt. David Mbamara scored five votes.

Mr Otti added that Kelechi Nwagwu garnered nine votes, AIG Charles Agomuo got one vote while the only female contestant among the 16 aspirants, Ndidi Anike, secured only one vote.

The chairman commended the 296 delegates for their peaceful conduct during the exercise as well as the aspirants for their resilience.

He urged all the aspirants to support the governorship candidate of the party “so that together we can move as a team to win the trophy.”

“All we want is a very strong Labour Party in Imo. Abia state does not want to be an orphan.

“So we plead with you to ensure that a brother governor emerges in the state come Nov. 11,” he stressed.

In his reaction, Mr Achonu thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and the stakeholders for their support.

Mr Achonu is the third governorship candidate who has so far emerged from the various political party primaries conducted in the state.

He will be contesting the Nov. 11 governorship election alongside Gov. Hope Uzodimma of the APC and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP.

Politics

APC wins Kankia supplementary election in Katsina State

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Salisu Rimaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s supplementary election for Kankia constituency of Katsina State.

INEC Returning Officer, Dr Kamaluddeen Kabo of the Federal University, Dutsinma declared the result in Kankia.

Mr Kabo said that Mr Rimaye scored 18, 157 votes to beat Abdullahi Ibrahim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 16, 763 votes.

He said the total number of registered voters was 78, 224, while 37, 030 were accredited and the total valid vote was 35, 037. 511 votes were rejected, while the total votes cast were 35, 548.

“I Dr Kamaladdeen Kabo, the Returning officer, Kankia, State Constituency election, held on April 15, 2023.

“Hereby satisfy that Salisu Rimaye of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.

The polling units where the supplementary election was conducted included Galadima A, Galadima B, Tsa and Rimaye wards, each had one polling unit, while Tafashiya ward had two.

Politics

INEC begins collation of governorship supplementary election results in Adamawa

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced collation of the governorship supplementary election results held on Saturday.

Speaking at the commencement of the exercise in Yola, Prof. Mohammed Mele, the state Collation Officer, said the results of Demsa and Yola-South Local Government Areas were ready.

Mr Mele urged the local government returning officers and the party agents to abide by the process for successful collation.

Dr Baba Bila, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States, announced that each political party would be represented by only one agent.

Mr Bila explained that the collation process required that the local government returning officers must first register with the secretariat, and get results verified before presenting them to state collation officer loudly.

He called on them to also be patient with the process for a successful collation of the results.

The elections were held in 69 polling units across 20 local government areas in the state.

Results from Demsa, Yola South, Yola North and Lamurde Local Government Areas have been collated as at press time.

Politics

Ex-Lagos deputy governor, Sinatu Ojikutu, vows to renounce citizenship before Tinubu’s inauguration

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A former deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, says she is currently in the process of renouncing her Nigerian citizenship following the emergence of Bola Tinubu as the President-elect.

Ojikutu who was deputy governor to Michael Otedola between 1992 to 1993 disclosed this during a process conference in her Lagos residence.

According to her, she has been humiliated and ostracised because of her lingering battle with the former Lagos state governor as well as her views on the 2023 general election.

“Before the results of the presidential elections were declared, I came out to say that if Bola Tinubu won the election, I would renounce my citizenship in Nigeria and I have my reasons. When he won, people called me and said he would not do anything bad. But I am endangered by the current situation. I have been ostracised and humiliated in places where I should be honoured because of his not being at peace with me.I will not hold a Nigerian passport with Bola Tinubu as President. I am praying to God to give me the nation I can go to. I am not going to America or the United Kingdom. I want a simple place where I (can) stay and live for the rest of my life. I don’t know where I am going but I have already given it to the lawyers to please see where I can get the citizenship. I am working on it seriously before May 29.”

She said she is of the view that it was the turn of the South East to take over the presidency in 2023.

‘’I am one of those who believed that it is the turn of the South-East to get the presidency. If we say we want to remain one of Nigeria, then we have to consider equity. You can’t say there is one Nigeria while suppressing a particular zone from getting to the number one shot.

“Many people know that with the records of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in eight years and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the years before; somebody who is not compromised, who is not part of the corruption, will find it difficult to vote for both parties. That is being sincere.”

Ojikutu said all efforts to resolve the differences she had with Tinubu since she was made a Commissioner representing Lagos State at the Federal Character Commission had been unsuccessful. While lamenting over the state of the nation, she said she is no longer proud to be a former public office holder.

“The National Assembly system is too expensive for Nigeria. The natural resources of this nation are enough for every man if it is well managed. I am ashamed to call myself a public officer because I cannot see all my sacrifices. And some people will boast of their political status as excellency. Excellency over a nation like this?

People who have served this nation faithfully are unhappy at the turn up of events. There are so many people on the streets who are hungry and everything that was supposed to be put in place has not been put in place.”she said.

She stated that those who are not satisfied with the outcome of the elections have a right to challenge it in court.

She expressed disappointment at the various attempts by some individuals to label those challenging the electioneering process as people committing a treasonable offence.

Politics

APC asks tribunal to declare Kano guber poll inconclusive

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to declare the March 18 election in the state inconclusive.

The party is challenging the declaration of Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP) as the election winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Kabir-Yusuf of NNPP polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat his rival, the incumbent deputy governor of the state, Nasiru Gawuna, of APC, who scored 892,705 votes.

In a five-volume petition filed on April 9, the APC alleged that Mr Kabir-Yusuf of NNPP was not qualified to contest the election because his name was not on the list of members of NNPP sent to INEC.The respondents in the petition are NNPP, Mr Kabir-Yusuf and INEC.

The APC alleged that NNPP did not win the election with the majority of lawful votes, arguing that some of the votes cast were invalid and, if removed from the scores, APC would have the highest number of votes cast.

APC alleged that the Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was wrong for declaring Mr Kabir-Yusuf the winner, adding that the lead margin was not higher than the votes cancelled.

The party prayed the tribunal to declare that NNPP had no candidate and Mr Kabir-Yusuf ‘s name was not in the register of voters submitted to INEC at the time of the election.

The APC prayed the tribunal to declare its candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, the winner of the election.The party similarly prayed the tribunal in the alternative to declare the election as inconclusive, alleging that the margin of lead was not more than the votes cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Kano APC legal adviser, Abdul Adamu-Fagge, told journalists that the court had granted an ex-parte motion to inspect the governorship election materials in all the 44 local government areas of the state.

The APC gubernatorial candidate was not joined in the petition.

According to the rule of the tribunal, the respondents have 21 to respond to the petition after court processes are served on them.

Politics

Peter Obi is unknown, unpopular in 22 states of Nigeria- Federal Government

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Peter Obi, a former Anambra governor and the flag bearer of the Labour Party considered a “frontrunner” in the February 25 presidential election, is “unknown” and unpopular in 22 states of Nigeria, the federal government has claimed.

“For instance, not only that the candidate must have the plurality of votes, he must also have one-quarter of the total vote cast in at least 25 states of the federation,” said the federal government’s information minister Lai Mohammed.

“When you look at the results, only the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, met these requirements.”

The minister added,

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, came short of these because he came second and had 25 per cent in 21 states. Obi came far behind with 25 per cent in 15 states. This means that Obi, who was wrongly adjudged as a frontrunner in the election, was virtually unknown and unpopular in 22 states.”

Mr Mohammed, on a publicity blitz overseas to prove that the presidential poll was free, fair and credible, stated this in London during his engagements with some international media organisations and think tanks, including The Economist, The Guardian and African Confidential, and Royal African Society.

“I also explained to them that many of them were ignorant of the constitutional requirements for a presidential candidate to win an election in Nigeria,” the minister noted.

During his meetings with them, the Nigerian minister said some commentators had the wrong mindset that the Labour Party and its Mr Obi would win the election, based on the hyped activities of the party and their supporters on social media, as well as the outcomes of various opinion polls which were unrepresentative of the situation in Nigeria.

“In the course of my interactions, particularly with The Economist, I referred them to an earlier article they wrote, in which they rated the Labour Party presidential candidate as the frontrunner in the polls,”

Mr Mohammed explained. “I explained to them that there was no way a presidential candidate who has no political spread and a grassroots base could win an election in Nigeria.”

Politics

Dino Melaye replies Wike after the governor laughed off his Kogi governorship ambition

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Senator Dino Melaye has fired back at Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, who on Tuesday, April 11, laughed off his aspiration to become the next governor of Kogi state.

At a media chat earlier on Tuesday, Governor Wike ruled out Melaye ahead of the PDP primary which precedes the November 15 governorship poll.

Describing Melaye’s ambition as a joke, Governor Wike said;

“When you give Dino that ticket, you know he won’t win in Kogi State. Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?” the governor queried.

However, in a statement released on his social media handle, Melaye said it was surprising that Wike has suddenly become the self-appointed public office regulator, who could determine what would happen in states.

He said that the governor has by his utterances against him stepped on the tail of Tiger and will see the repercussions.

“On recovering from his inebriation, Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and he gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. Today, Wike can take a swipe at me, and mark me down as unqualified to govern my state, but has he forgotten that he believed my Gubernatorial aspiration in 2019?

Can he be reminded that I have served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and have also been elected twice into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”he wrote

Melaye said Wike is against his governorship ambition because he backed PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar against the governor’s interest in the G5.

“He (Wike) needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion.”

“Wike, stay on your lane. I am Daniel Dino Melaye. My speciality is to tame lions, whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers,” he said.

Read Dino’s full statement below

”The simultaneous appearance of Nyesom Wike on some national television in Nigeria earlier today is a sad reminder of the misfortune that the people of Rivers State have suffered in having an unstable mind and a prodigal head as the Governor of the State for the past 8 years.

In the end, all that the indecorous Wike achieved was to buy precious media time to vent his spleen on fellow Nigerians who are more qualified than him to be Governors in Nigeria.

Hallucinated by the patrimonial resources of the good, but impoverished people of Rivers State, Wike has turned himself into a depraved interloper, who probably out of schizophrenic impulse engage in pitiable melodrama whenever he steps away from the intoxication of his bottle companions.

He has suddenly become the self-appointed public office regulator, who could determine what would happen in states not in any way contiguous to his colonised State.

On recovering from his inebriation, Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and he gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. And but for this absolute and indiscriminate dispensation by God, how did a conceited person like Nyesom Wike become a governor? Is it his oratory, diligence, finesse, wealth or intellectual endowment?

Today, Wike can take a swipe at me, and mark me down as unqualified to govern my state, but has he forgotten that he believed my Gubernatorial aspiration in 2019? Can he be reminded that I have served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives and have also been elected twice into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I can understand the pain of Wike. He wanted my support for his misplaced aspiration to become the Flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential election, but knowing his avowed credential to be eminently unworthy of the ticket I deployed support for His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, a cosmopolitan and cultured statesman who ignored all the tantrums of Wike throughout the period of the election.

Wike is probably mistaken me for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. He needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion.If Wike were a reflective mind he should now be more concerned about his post-tenure survival, because with the recklessness he exhibited in mismanaging the resources of Rivers State, his prison uniform must have been sewn and his inmate number must be waiting for his allocation.

As for me I will not only continue to savour my freedom, I will be sending relief assistance to Wike from Government House Lokoja, by the grace of God.The indiscretion and war of attrition embarked on by Wike contributed to the public perception of our great Party.

He sees nothing good in the Leadership of the Party, yet he can not move to another Party, because which Party will accept Wike in his irredeemable state of ignominious liability.

As the good people of Kogi State prepare for the Gubernatorial election, the choice is theirs to make. All the evil machinations and self-destructive conduct of Wike will fail. I have neither sought for nor expected support from Wike. My aspiration is on course. The least I will spare time is distractions from the contentions of the untamed tongue of Wike.

As I move forward, I’m guided by the Scriptural invocation:

For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up

Isaiah 50:7-9

As I draw the curtain, let me also drop this last verse for Nyesom Wike: Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled- This you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment

Isaiah 50:11.

Wike, stay on your lane. I am Daniel Dino Melaye. My speciality is to tame lions, whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers.”

Politics

Peter Obi’s petition against Tinubu is incompetent, abusive and vague – INEC tells Court

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss a petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi over the outcome of the February 25th Presidential election.

Obi and his party filed a petition challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the President-Elect.

Obi and his Party also challenged the eligibility of Tinubu’s running mate and Vice-President-Elect, Kashim Shettima to run in the election on grounds that he had a double nomination in contravention of the Electoral Act 2022.

The petitioners asserted that the election was marred by rigging and manipulations, adding that the INEC violated its own regulations when it announced the results, because at the time of the announcement, the total polling unit results had yet to be fully scanned, uploaded, and transmitted electronically as required by the electoral act.

Responding to the petition, the electoral commission said the reliefs sought by Obi and his party are not grantable.

The commission asked the court to either dismiss or strike out the petition for being grossly incompetent, abusive, vague, non-specific, ambiguous, and academic.

The electoral commission discredited the petitioners over the claim that Tinubu was not elected by the majority of lawful votes cast.

INEC argued that the petitioners’ prayer to declare that Obi scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the election and be declared winner was defective for failure to join necessary parties and for lack of requisite particulars and pleading to support same.

The commission said Obi cannot be returned as elected, having not polled majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and secured one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all states in the federation and the FCT.

On the issue of non-representation, INEC said the petitioners did not have polling agents in all the polling units across Nigeria as they only submitted a list of 134, 874 polling agents which are 41, 972 short of the 176, 846 polling units across Nigeria.

Lifestyle, Politics

Anti-Tinubu protester remanded in prison

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The Zuba Magistrate Court in Abuja has refused to grant bail to Obiajulu Uja, a passenger debarked and handed over to the police for making a sensitive statement about President-elect Bola Tinubu onboard an Ibom Air Abuja-Lagos bound flight.

Ruling in the bail application filed by Mr Uja’s counsel, Senior Magistrate Mohammed Ismail held that the application was premature.

He held that the exhibits attached to the application did not say the defendant was unfit to face trial but indicated he was of unsound mind.

He also held that while the constitution guarantees every person’s liberty, a court can deprive a person of their liberty based on health grounds.

Citing section 35(1)(e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and section 278 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the magistrate held that Mr Uja could not be granted bail.

He held that where a defendant’s mental capacity is an issue, the court has to ascertain the medical situation of such a defendant.

Mr Ismail added that the exhibits attached to Mr Uja’s bail application raised the issue of his medical capacity.

He subsequently turned down the bail application and ordered that Mr Uja be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre of Nigerian Correctional Service.

The senior magistrate further ordered the head of the centre to take the defendant to a government hospital to ascertain his mental capacity.

He then adjourned until April 20 for a report and hearing.Mr Uja had held up the aircraft for over an hour, and it took the efforts of six airport security officers to evacuate him after he started the protest.

The police accused Mr Uja of threatening violence and causing a breach of peace with his actions.

Politics

Leadership Crisis: Plateau Assembly will remain sealed- Commissioner of Police

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The Plateau Commissioner of Police, Batholemew Onyeka, said that the state House of Assembly would remain sealed till security threats within and around the complex were tackled.

Mr Onyeka stated this on Tuesday in Jos while addressing journalists on why security personnel had sealed it since April 5.

The commissioner said the command has an intelligence report on an impending attack on the complex that may lead to the breakdown of law and order.

He said the command, through social media, got the information that Abok Ayuba, the former speaker impeached on October 28, 2021, got judgement in his favour to be reinstated.

“I took the decision to seal the assembly complex to ensure that the State House of Assembly is safe and that neither life nor property is lost,” he said.

Mr Onyeka said that he invited assembly members with their lawyers to his office based on the intelligence at his disposal.

He said he advised the lawmakers to avoid anything that would lead to the breakdown of law and order hence, the deployment of police officers to the complex.

“The deployment of police personnel to the assembly wasn’t targeted at any group or persons but to maintain peace, protect lives and property,” stated Mr Onyeka.

The commissioner appealed to the people of Plateau to avoid being used by any person or group of persons to achieve their self-serving and selfish ambitions.

On April 3, the Plateau State High Court reinstated Mr Ayuba as the assembly’s speaker.

He resumed duty on April 4 and presided over the assembly plenary.But Mr Ayuba’s successor, Yakubu Sanda and 12 others filed an appeal and stay of execution on Tuesday.

Messrs Sanda and Ayuba are laying claims to the speakership of the assembly.

While Mr Ayuba relied on his reinstatement, Mr Sanda is holding onto the stay of execution.

Politics

Atiku mourns death of Prince Bola Ajibola

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday mourned the demise of Bola Ajibola, former International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge of The Hague.

Mr Ajibola passed on in Abeokuta on Sunday at the age of 89 years.In a statement he issued in Abuja, Mr Abubakar described the former attorney general and the minister of justice of Nigeria (1985 – 1991) as a great man of impeccable virtue.

Mr Abubakar said he was “pained but happy because, being a Muslim, I am certain that Ajibola would himself, have elected to make his passing in the glorious month of Ramadan.’’

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the March 18 election added that Mr Ajibola would be remembered as a doyen of the law profession and a jurist of note.

“He did the country proud when he served at The International Court of Justice at The Hague, as well as during his years of service as Nigeria’s envoy to the United Kingdom,” he noted.

“What was spectacular about the late eminent jurist was how his values of forthrightness and candour, which, by the way, is emblematic of his Egba heritage, reflected in all other spheres of his earthly engagements.”

Mr Atiku added;

“As a diplomat, jurist and educationist, what was consistent about his character was his overwhelming presence of rectitude and forbearance in every of his endeavour. Those qualities of his personality are the secret codes to his achievements in life. I am sure that they are qualities that his family and friends will be proud of and immortalise in his memory.”

The former vice-president also stated that Mr Ajibola was always at peace with his creator and fellow humans, stressing that “the legacies of his lifetime should be a beacon that should call younger Nigerians to an exemplary life that he lived.’’

Mr Abubakar condoled with Mr Ajibola’s family and the people and government of Ogun. He stated that Nigeria and the entire world would mourn the deceased.Mr Ajibola, the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1984 to 1985.

He was also one of five commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, established through the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

He was the high commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.

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