Politics

Ganduje mourns Rabi Dantata, says death loss for all

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Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has condoled Aminu Dantata over the demise of his wife, Rabi Aminu Dantata.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the governor’s chief press secretary, Abba Anwar.

Mr Ganduje described the deceased as a mother of greater substance, a beacon of hope and a disciplined mother who shaped many people around her to become productive and righteous.

“Hajiya Rabi Aminu Alhassan Dantata was a loving mother to all. Whose outstanding righteousness gave direction to those in her surrounding and beyond,” he said.

The Kano governor extended heartfelt condolences to Mr Dantata over the death of his wife. He described the death as “a great loss not only to her immediate families but to the state and the entire generation of righteous people.”

Mr Ganduje said;

“As we all loved her presence in our midst, Allah Almighty loves her the most. Hence her time on this earth elapsed. May Allah Bless her reposed soul and give her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus. May He look after what she left till eternity. What remains for us is to continue praying for her till the end of our lifetime.”

Politics

Commissioner tasks NPC special teams on efficiency, teamwork

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Alhaji Chiso Dattijo, the National Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Sokoto State, has urged the organisation’s Special Work Force (SWF) to ensure efficiency and teamwork during the upcoming 2023 census.

Mr Dattijo, who made the call when he inspected a personnel training programme of the SWF on Saturday in Sokoto, said it ensure that the census achieved maximum accuracy.

He described the task given to the SWF as critical as the members would be in charge of promptly addressing complaints from enumerators and supervisors.

Mr Dattijo urged the personnel to ensure maximum dedication and teamwork in order to achieve the desired results.

He said 2023 census would be conducted digitally, pointing out that the ongoing training was in line with the modalities adopted to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

According to him, SWF will be in the field in every location to coordinate the use of mobile digital gadgets.

“The vision of the 2023 census is to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census data but also an inclusive and user-friendly data that will be used by all segments of the society for development planning and critical programme interventions,” Dattijo said.

Earlier, the Training Coordinator, Mallam Abubakar Maiakwai-Ladan, commended the commissioner for the visit.He said the inspection visit would serve as a morale booster to the participating workers.

Mr Maiakwai-Ladan said NPC had diligently prepared for the forthcoming exercise and urged all the engaged personnel to live up to expectations.

He also appealed to all Nigerians to support the census by ensuring that they were counted.

Lifestyle, Politics

EFCC chairman Bawa warns Nigerian students against internet fraud

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EFCC on Thursday in Abuja charged students of tertiary institutions to steer clear of internet fraud to accelerate national development.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren quoted the anti-graft chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa as giving the charge at the inauguration of the Zero Tolerance Club at Baze University, Abuja.

Mr Bawa warned that the penalties against internet fraud were stiff and urged students to avoid all temptations that might lead them to join fraudsters.

“Every variant of internet fraud such as romance scam, business email compromise, hacking, impersonation, Forex scam and others are corrupt practices, and you must not engage in them,” he warned.

“As undergraduates, you are expected to channel your creative energies into useful engagements and not into dishonest and dubious means of cheating others of their resources.”

EFCC’s public affairs director, Osita Nwajah, stressed the importance of joining the club and encouraged the students to acquaint themselves with the ‘Operational Manual for Integrity and Zero Tolerance Clubs’, which he presented to the school as a guide for the club’s activities.

Another EFCC official, Aisha Mohammed, heading the enlightenment and reorientation unit, told the students that the essence of the club was to teach virtues of integrity, honesty, discipline, tolerance and patriotism in them.

The university’s registrar, Ibrahim Mohammed, emphasised the essence of being upright and charged the students to avoid crimes and criminality at all costs.

“There is nothing more important than integrity. Integrity may not give you money today, but it is going to put you on the path to success. Money always comes,” stated the registrar.”

He added;

“It may not come in your early life, but if you work hard with integrity and are steadfast, you will succeed; you will make money than you ever believed in your life. You will be able to afford all the things you want and walk with your head high up as an important and respected member of society without engaging in fraud.”

Politics

I advised Tinubu, Atiku to step down for younger generation- Wole Soyinka

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Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has disclosed that he advised the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to step down for the younger generation.

Soyinka said this during an interview on Arise Television morning show on Wednesday, April 5. Soyinka said:

“When Atiku came to my office in Ikeja, he came with Gbenga Daniel, my former governor. I said to him listen is about the time you people left the stage. Why don’t you just go away? We need an infusion of fresh blood into the system.

“For some people, maybe they read it as blood-letting, no I said, an infusion of fresh blood. I said so I cannot support you. I think your generation should really quit. He was not the only one. I then sought out the current President-elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and I gave him exactly the same message.

“I said whatever you people are planning, I am convinced that when a younger generation, new thinking, new sensibility, new energies, so why don’t you just leave the seat.

“Let’s look for somebody who is a really brilliant individual and use your influence to catapult that person to power. And this country will see a massive transformation.

“We spoke for about one and a half hours, and then Bola Tinubu said no. He said there were still things he could contribute,” Soyinka added.

Politics

Reno Omokri urges FG to arrest Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed

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Reno Omokri has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to arrest Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed the way Nnamdi Kanu was arrested.

Reno said the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and his Vice Presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed should be locked up when next they make “treasonous comments”.

Omokri wrote:

“The next time either Peter Obi or Datti Baba Ahmed open their mouths to make treasonous comments, the Federal Government should arrest them. Nothing will happen. What happened when FG arrested Nnamdi Kanu? Did heaven fall? Arrest the wimpy simps if they blab anyhow!”

Politics

Petitions with electoral tribunal should be resolved before a President is sworn in- Olisa Agbakoba

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The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has said that all petitions with the electoral tribunal should be resolved before the inauguration and swearing-in of a new president in Nigeria.

Agbakoba said this while speaking on Arise TV today April 5.

According to him, most of the political arguments going on in Nigeria will be solved when the petitions before the tribunal are heard and sorted out accordingly.

He further stated that it will be better if these issues are sorted out before the 29th of May, as it may cause more political arguments in the country if a president is sworn-in when there are unsolved petitions before the tribunal.

“In order to balance out justice, could we please get these petitions, if they can be resolved before that date?” as he urged the Electoral Tribunal to complete the process as soon as possible.

I can understand Peter Obi’s concern and Datti Mohammed’s outburst if Mr. Tinubu is being sworn in at Eagle’s Square and the petition is hanging in the court of appeal. Where we strike the balance is to give our best possible shots to finish the petitions,” he said.

Agbakoba opined that resolving of the petitions before the Inauguration day will take away the questions of the legitimacy of the president who will be sworn-in.

The former NBA president said that the policy that gave electoral candidates 180 days to file a petition was too long.

“The fact that the constitution prescribes a time limit doesn’t mean that time limit must actually run.” he said

Politics

Akwa Ibom assembly amends investment corporation law 2012

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The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has ratified a bill for a law to amend the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP) Law 2012.

This was sequel to the reports presented before the House at plenary on Tuesday by KufreAbasi Edidem (PDP-Itu), and chairman of the House Committee on Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

Mr Edidem, in his report, said the amendment of the 2012 AKICORP Law would update the scope of the legal and institutional framework of the corporation in line with global best practices.

“The amendment will strengthen the corporate governance structure of AKICORP to meet the present and future corporate demands. It will entrench the governance structure of Ibom Airlines Limited to safeguard the investment against undue political interference and instil confidence in investors to invest in the state,” he said.

The parliament also ratified the report of the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance on Akwa Ibom State Bonds, Notes and Other Securities Bill 2022.

Uduak Odudoh (PDP -Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo) and chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance presented the report at plenary.

After deliberation and consideration of the bills at the Committee of the Whole, the House subsequently passed the same into law with April 4, 2023, as their commencement date.

Also at plenary, a bill for a law to provide for a map for the state and other matters connected therewith, sponsored by David Lawrence (PDP-Eket), was read the first time and committed to a joint committee on lands, housing, boundary and local government for further legislative actions.

Similarly, at plenary, a bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State Rural Access Roads Agency (Establishment) and Funds 2022 was read the second time and committed to the Committee on Rural Development for further legislative actions.

Meanwhile, the House has adjourned plenary to reconvene on April 11.

Politics

China meets President-elect Tinubu on trade, diplomatic relations with Nigeria

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The Chinese government said its delegation headed by its ambassador to Nigeria has met with President-elect Bola Tinubu to discuss diplomatic and trade relations.

China said it had identified people-to-people cooperation, which leads to cultural exchanges, as one of the main focus areas in its relationship with Nigeria and other countries.

Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, said this at a one-day seminar held at the University of Abuja on Tuesday day.He added that he was ready to work with the new administration to be sworn in on May 29.

“I have talked with the president-elect and the vice-president-elect, and I believe we shared a lot of ideas, and I have also shared my ideas and practices with the current President Buhari, and China believes that the current president has set a very solid foundation for the next government,” Mr Cui said.

“In spite of the challenges Nigeria faced, the country has smart, hardworking and talented people.”

The seminar had as its theme ‘Chinese Harmony and China-Nigeria Symphony’.Mr Cui said policy coordination, financial integration, facilities connectivity, and trade and investment were the other cooperation priorities of its government.

The ambassador explained that policy coordination included planning and supporting large-scale infrastructural development projects, and financial integration included enhancing monetary coordination and bilateral financial cooperation.

He also described trade and investment as facilitating cross-border investments and supply chain cooperation, and the facilities connectivity included building facilities to enable connectivity along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI, also called the New Silk Road, is a China-led infrastructure project that aims to stretch globally.

The initiative was launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping and had a collection of development and investment initiatives originally devised to link East Asia and Europe through physical infrastructure.

The project has, however, expanded to Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.Moreover, Mr Cui said the trade value between China and the BRI countries was ¥13.8, approximately N923 trillion or $2 trillion, which Nigeria is part of.

“The BRI is an initiative proposed by the Chinese government aimed at promoting Nigeria-China, Africa-China relations. It is good to try to increase trade among the big countries, not only the individual countries. Nigeria and China have huge potentials, which both countries can work together to harness,” explained the Chinese ambassador.

Mr Cui added;

“The most important thing is how we can increase our productivity in Nigeria, and I am working hard on trying to build industries, trying to get Chinese investment. I do believe in the future that we can have products exported to Chinese markets.”

The envoy, who said BRI had achieved its objectives, urged both countries to explore the extensive consultations, enjoy the contributions, and share the benefits.

Lifestyle, Politics

NCC denies tracking and leaking phone calls of Nigerians

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The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has denied any involvement in the tracking and leaking of phone conversations between individuals, groups, or organizations.

The Commission stated this in a statement issued and signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka.

Part of the statement reads;

“The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been inundated with enquiries by the media on allegations of telephone “tracking” and “leakage” made against the Commission by some individuals and groups in the social and alternative Media.

The Commission wishes to make the following clarifications, The Commission denies the allegations in their entirety.

By the provisions of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA) 2003 and other extant Laws of the Federation, the Commission does not and cannot “track” nor “leak” telephone conversations of anyone.

The Commission has reported the allegations, which we take seriously, to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and necessary action.

The Commission restates its commitment to discharge its responsibilities to the Nigerian people in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the NCA 2003; and other extant Laws of the Federation; and global best practices.”

Recall that last weekend, a purported telephone conversation between Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Bishop David Oyedepo, went viral.

Some Nigerians including musician Peter Okoye, questioned the safety of telephone calls in Nigeria.

Politics

Ebonyi court rejects bail application of politician over attempted murder

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A magistrate court in Abakaliki has refused to grant the bail application filed by Chukwuma John, a politician charged with alleged possession of a firearm and attempted murder.

Mr John is charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, unlawful firearm possession, and intimidation with a weapon.

The prosecuting counsel, Bassy Okon, told the court that the defendant, a native of the Okposi community, committed the offence on March 2 in Okposi-Okwu, Ohaozara council area of Ebonyi.

Magistrate Ojemba Isu held that the court did not grant the bail request for want in jurisdiction.Mr Isu adjourned the matter until May 3 for further hearing.

Justus Unigwe, the defence counsel, said he was not disturbed by the rejection of the bail.

“Based on the kind of charge brought against my client, this court lack jurisdiction to grant him bail.

You know, this is a magistrate court, though, in some circumstances, the court is empowered to grant bail, but when the charges are mixed up with more difficult charges, the best option is to seek relief in the high court, which is what we are going to do and my client will be free,” Mr Unigwe added.

Mr John pleaded not guilty, insisting that he was arrested and tortured over what he knew nothing about.

“My hands are clean. I know nothing of what I am being accused of. Please allow me to go and attend to my family because my pregnant wife’s delivery date is fast approaching,” he told the court.

Lifestyle, Politics

Kaduna government confirms kidnap of 10 students

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The Kaduna state government says it has received preliminary reports from security agencies on the kidnapping of about 10 students in Kachia Local Government Area.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Aruwan said that according to preliminary reports about 10 students of Government Secondary School, Awon (a day secondary school) were kidnapped on Monday.

“The exact location of the incident is yet to be ascertained but detailed reports being awaited will clarify whether the incident occurred within the school premises or elsewhere.

“The government will issue a public statement accordingly, when these reports are received,” he said.

Politics

Buhari seeks senate approval of Data Protection Bill

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President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Senate to consider and approve the Nigerian Data Protection Bill sent to it by the Executive.

The president’s request is contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Alhaji Ahmad Lawan, and read at plenary on Tuesday.

“Pursuant to Section 58, sub section 2 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I forward herewith the Nigerian Data Protection Bill for consideration and approval of by the Senate,’’ the letter read.

The Bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission for regulation of laws on personal information.

In a separate letter, Buhari urged the Senate to approve the re-appointment of Abdul Abubakar as non-Executive Director of the CBN for a second and final term.

In yet another letter, the president transmitted a Bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force College Training School and Institution, for consideration and approval by the Senate.

“Pursuant to section 58, sub section 2 of the 1999 Constitution, I forward herewith the Nigerian Police Force College Training School and Institution Establishment Bill 2023 for consideration and passage of the Senate,’’ the letter read.

According to Buhari, the school seeks to provide a comprehensive and legal institutional framework to provide specialised training for police officers.

The institution would advance the performance of officers in accordance with the provision of the Nigeria Police Act, Buhari explained.

The president also sought the Senate’s approval for reimbursement through the issuance of promissory notes to Plateau and Borno, the sums of N6.6 billion and N3.8 billion, respectively.

The reimbursements are for road projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government by the state governments.

Politics

88 died in 2023 elections, over 450 rights violation petitions received-NHRC

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it received over 450 human rights-related cases from the February 25 and March 18 elections in which 88 people died.

The human rights adviser to the NHRC’s executive secretary, Hilary Ogbonna, announced this Monday at a media briefing.

The NHRC inaugurated the Mobilising Voters for Election (MOVE) on October 17, 2022. MOVE is a multifaceted and multi-dimensional programme and human rights-based campaign that seeks to facilitate access and promote the electorate’s participation in the 2023 elections.

MOVE’s broad goal is to promote access, participation, credibility and accountability in the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

The NHRC said it set up a National Hate Speech Register in October 2022, recording 22 hate speech cases, with investigations launched on committed before, during and after the elections.The commission revealed that 88 people died during the elections.

“The emerging external threats and fear existing are insecurity and violence across the country. There are hate speech and incitement from politicians and their supporters. New threats are the attack on media organisations and intimidation of the judiciary,” stated the NHRC.

The commission added;

“Possible impacts are loss of faith and integrity in the judicial process. Incitement leads to renewed violence and ethnic violence.”

NHRC boss, Tony Ojukwu, said;

“You have been with us through the process, and it is important that we brief you on how far we have gone. We thank the media and our partners, (the) UN resident coordinator, Ford Foundation and Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP).

It is important, whatever happens, that we should remain law-abiding. This is the only way we can develop as human beings.”

Business, Politics

Emefiele is sadist, he committed crime worse than electoral fraud- Wole Soyinka

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The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is a sadist and has committed a crime against humanity with his naira redesign policy which has “impoverished” many Nigerians, says Wole Soyinka.

For several months, Nigerians have had to grapple with a cash crunch due to the CBN’s limiting of cash in circulation. But the central bank is accusing politicians of hoarding cash. Deposit banks have complained of receiving limited cash from CBN.

Mr Soyinka, a playwright and rights activist, slammed Mr Emefiele and President Muhammadu for stifling “lives and livelihoods” through the cash policy that has made cash withdrawals at banks, ATMS and PoS difficult.

“You can’t buy newspapers. You can’t buy guguru. Which means the saleswoman cannot pay for plantain, which means that the farmer cannot pay for transportation of his goods from his farm to the market,” said Mr Soyinka regarding the cash scarcity caused by the CBN’s naira redesign policy. The rights activist stated this in a Channels TV interview aired on Monday.

He added;

“Emefiele has committed a crime against humanity, over and beyond even any electoral mago-mago. He struck at the heart of the subsisting survival principles, minimal needs and entitlements of the ordinary people in the street.”

The apex bank, in October 2022, announced the redesign of the N200, N300, and N500 banknotes. The CBN announced that the banknotes would cease to be legal tenders on February 15, 2023.

The policy and deadline were approved by Mr Buhari, who claimed he was trying to stop vote buying and other corrupt practices ahead of the February 25 and March 18 elections.

However, the Supreme Court nullified the arbitrary withdrawal of the old banknotes and ordered the Buhari regime to allow the currencies to remain in circulation until December, following a lawsuit challenging the naira policy.

The suit was initially filed by Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.Mr Soyinka expressed concern that the scarcity of the naira has persisted with its attendant economic and social hardships.

“…Don’t bully me, don’t take my voice away. Don’t take my economic potential away. Don’t throw me on the mercy of a sadist like Emefiele, who impoverished…he and his boss, Buhari, because ultimately, responsibility (rests) with him to have allowed this to happen. But this is the expert,” Mr Soyinka stressed.

“This is the one who gives advice and executes the policies.”

He further stated;

“And (Mr Emefiele) reduced this nation to a state where even a few days ago, I sent a cheque to the bank, and the cheque came back, they had no cash. One of the bankers eventually brought me something from his own cash and explained to me what had been going on and how they would sit and wait for money to come.”

Politics

Man who went onboard a plane to say Tinubu will not be sworn in as President, arraigned and remanded in prison

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Mr Obiajulu Uja, the middle-aged man who disrupted an Abuja to Lagos flight over the weekend, when he stood up to say that President-elect, Bola Tinubu, will never be sworn-in as President on May 29, was on Monday, April 3, arraigned before the Zuba Magistrates’ Court, Abuja and remanded in prison custody.

In a viral video, Uja could be seen saying Tinubu will never be sworn-in as President.

Six airport security officers later came in and forcefully evacuated him from the aircraft. His actions prevented the flight from leaving for over an hour.

According to the court papers, Uja was charged with “public nuisance, resistance to a lawful arrest, threatening violence and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace contrary to sections 396, 267,188,172 and 144 of the Penal Code Law.”

Uja had through his counsel told the police that he was mentally unstable and should not be arraigned. This was however dismissed by the police who took him to the court for arraignment.

The court will on Thursday, April 6 hear his bail application.

Lifestyle, Politics

Gunmen storm Osun ruler’s palace, kidnap wives, ruler and others die chasing attackers

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The police command in Osun has confirmed the kidnap of two wives of a ruler, Oba Ogboni Agbaye and Awise Iwase of Yorubaland, Oba Adetoyese Olakisan, at Imesi-Ile in the Obokun council area of Osun.

Gunmen invaded Mr Olakisan’s residence on Sunday and whisked the women away.

The police said the ruler got into a vehicle to search for his wives, but the vehicle veered off the road and rammed into a tree.

“The Ogboni Agbaye and the policeman in charge of Oke-Imesi, were in the vehicle with another woman when they had the lone accident. They were rushed to the hospital, where they all died later,” stated the police.

“Police operatives are, however, still inside the forest to rescue the kidnapped women.”

The police also confirmed the release of a trader kidnapped by gunmen on Ikirun-Osogbo Road on Friday.

Police spokesperson in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola, told journalists that the kidnappers abandoned their female victim in the bush with the security operatives on their trail.

The police said the victim was going to Ile-Ife from Ilorin when the kidnappers ambushed the vehicle in which she was travelling and that the driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape, alerted the police in Iragbiji town.

Following the report, operatives, with the assistance of local hunters, “swung into action, combed the bushes around the scene and rescued the victim.”

Politics

Former Abia governor Orji Kalu loses wife, Ifeoma

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Ifeoma Kalu, wife of a former governor of Abia state and the chief whip of the senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, is dead, Peoples Gazette can confirm.

Her death was announced by Mr Kalu via his verified Facebook page on Monday afternoon as he asked people to remember the bereaved family in their prayers.

However, the cause of death was not disclosed by the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, who has publicly expressed his desire to become the next senate president of the nation.

She was aged 61.

A memorial service to honour the late Mrs Ifeoma Kalu is scheduled to take place in the United States of America.

“With a heavy heart and pain, we announce the passing on to eternal glory of Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu aged 61 years,” he said.

“She was a woman of virtue who was committed to the service of God and humanity. A memorial service in her honour is scheduled to be held in the United States of America (USA).

“Please remember her and loved ones in prayers at this difficult period. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

Politics

Gunshots fired as APC and PDP members clash over inspection of electoral materials in Port Harcourt

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Violence erupted at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Monday, April 3, after members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state clashed in Port Harcourt, the state capital over the inspection of electoral materials.

According to Channels TV, chaos broke out when the APC Governorship Candidate in the March 18 poll, Tonye Cole, and members of his party arrived at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state for the inspection of materials used in the last election in the state.

The APC members were forced to turn back by members of the PDP who were already on ground at the INEC office before their arrival.

The situation caused pandemonium as the PDP members demanded the joint inspection of election results and the Certified True Copies of result sheets for the just-concluded 2023 general elections.

The PDP protesters had blocked both the waterlines and GRA areas of Aba road, the two major access points to the INEC head office. No car was able to drive through that stretch of Aba road from the ground lanes, while those on the GRA flyover were trapped as there was no exit route.

The PDP protest was led by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie who was re-elected in the March 18 election and Samuel Nwanosike, the Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Though the party won the governorship and State Assembly elections, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly who jointly led the protest, demanded that INEC grant the party a joint inspection of the materials used in conducting the March 18 elections.

The protesters believed that their demand would introduce the level of transparency needed to forestall unnecessary litigations and arguments.

Apart from the demand for joint inspection of materials, some inscriptions on the placards displayed during the protest also request INEC to make available the Certified True Copies of results.

Lifestyle, Politics

Nigerians will not stop demanding restructuring – Prof Soyinka

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Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has stated that Nigerians will continue to call for a restructuring, even as citizens gear up for the inauguration of the new administration on May 29.

Soyinka said the government of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, must place a renewed focus on the persistent calls for restructuring the Nigerian federation otherwise its programmes and policies will face serious challenges.

“Whomever it is must understand that the people of this country will not cease demanding a restructuring of this nation,” he stated on Channels TV.

“New voices are being heard and they are more powerful than before. They are not just whining voices, they are voices based on actualities. We have failed in so many directions and they are saying, ‘let us try in this direction’ and you cannot ignore it.

“Otherwise, even your economic policies will fail, your infrastructure and transformation will fail. We will just go back threading the same old spur.”

Politics

INEC appoints nine SANs to defend election

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No fewer than nine Senior Advocates of Nigeria have been appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission to defend the results of the February 25 presidential election.

The team, according to City Lawyer, is to be led by former Nigerian Bar Association President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN). Other members of the team are Stephen Adehi (SAN), Oluwakemi Pinheiro (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), and Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN).

It was gathered from a member of the legal team that four SANs who are staff members of INEC’s legal department are also members of the team alongside Garba Hassan, Musa Attah, and Patricia Obi.

INEC budgeted over N3bn to defend the results of the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections and the March 18 governorship and state assembly polls.

The PUNCH reports that several candidates who lost in the elections have filed petitions at the presidential and state election petition tribunals to challenge the outcome of the polls.

So far, over 100 election petitions have been filed by aggrieved candidates and their parties across the country.

The presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the Action Alliance, Solomon Okangbuan; Allied Peoples Movement, Chichi Ojei, have also filed petitions for the nullification of the presidential election results.

The commission had on March 1, 2023, declared Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

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