The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, kicked off the campaign for his re-election bid.
The event held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
Sanwo-Olu Kicks Off Governorship Campaign
INEC office in Imo set ablaze by hoodlums
The Independent National Electoral Commission office in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State was, on Thursday, vandalised and partially set ablaze by some unknown people.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Friday.
This is the fourth attack on Local Government INEC offices within the space of three weeks, following attacks in Ogun, Osun and Ebonyi states.
The building which is undergoing extensive renovation was earlier set ablaze in 2020.
According to the statement, three out of seven construction workers were abducted but later released.
The statement read, “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that our office in Orlu Local Government Area was attacked. The incident occurred yesterday Thursday, December 1, 2022.
“The building, which is undergoing extensive renovation following an earlier attack, was vandalised and partially set ablaze.
“Three out of seven construction workers were abducted but later released.
“The damage would have been more extensive but for the quick response of the Nigeria Police which has deployed its personnel to the site.
“This is one attack too many. The Commission once again expresses its concern over the spate of attacks on its facilities and the negative consequences on our preparations for the 2023 General Election.”
Expose governors stealing local government funds- Governor Wike and Governor Ortom challenge President Buhari
The Governors of Rivers and Benue States, Nyesom Wike, and Samuel Ortom, have challenged President Buhari to expose state governors who are stealing local government funds.
President Buhari in a speech delivered at the presidential parley for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the State House, on Thursday, December 1, said that state governors steal allocations meant for local governments.
Reacting to the comment, Governor Wike while speaking at the inauguration of the Mgbuosimini Internal Roads in Rivers state, denied ever taking funds meant for the local government since he assumed office as governor in 2015.
He challenged the president to name governors that are doing that as his statement could be termed class defamation.
“I want to challenge Mr. President, Mr. President you are a leader and we believe as leaders you must come out and tell Nigerians, who are those committing this offence? You said the governors are taking local government funds, I want to say in the name of Almighty God I have never touched local government funds one day, I have never and I have no reason to do that.
So Mr. President who are those people? You know them, tell us. It is not good to say what you call class defamation, you say, governors, please I am not one of those governors, so Mr. President please spare me, tell Nigerians that the Integrity governors are not part of them, we have integrity, we are not part of them” Gov Wike said In the same vein, his Benue state counterpart, Samuel Ortom, who was also at the road commissioning, denied touching funds meant for local government, saying that their funds go to them directly from the federation account.
”It is a logical fallacy to say that all governors are criminals; all governors are stealing from local government. I join governor Wike to say from 2015, let EFCC come, let ICPC come, let every other agency that can unearth this, as far as Benue State is concerned let them bring it out so that we know the people, there is no point generalising that all of us are evil people.
I don’t do it, I didn’t like it when the Federal Government enacted something and said local government should have financial autonomy, but from that day all monies are paid to the local government, and no single naira has been paid through anyone, all monies that come from the federation account go straight to the individual councils” he said
Governor Wike gives out his Jacket, Hat at Project Inauguration
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Thursday, handed out his jacket and hat to members of the audience during a project inauguration.
Wike inaugurated the Rumuodogho Link Road in Emohua Local Government Area on Thursday.
During his speech, he suddenly said, “The heat is too much abeg,” and started to remove his jacket.
Then he looked at the audience and asked in Pidgin English, “I should dash you?”
He beckoned on the beneficiary and threw the jacket to him.
He also threw his hat and it was grabbed by a woman.
Lead singer of Governor Wike’s band survives motor accident
Bamidele, the lead singer of the band that performs at different functions concerning Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, has survived a serious motor accident.
Sharing photos of him bleeding and receiving medical attention, Bamidele said his car “somersaulted over 8 times into the bush from the road”.
Akwa Ibom YPP governorship candidate bag 7-year jail sentence
Bassey Albert Akpan, the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has bagged a 7-year jail sentence after being arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering, including graft.
The YPP governorship candidate who is also a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on June 24, 2019 on charges of corruption over the receipt of exotic vehicles estimated at over N204m.
It was revealed that in May 2010, Akpan, who was then the Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State, reportedly received from one Jide Omokore, a BMW X5 (bullet-proof car) worth N50m; in December 2012, another Infinity QX56 (bullet-proof) worth N45m was also received from the same source.
In November 2013, he received a Toyota Landcruiser V8 (bullet-proof) valued at N40m and in March 2014, he received a Range Rover, valued at N40m; in September 2014, another Toyota Hiace High Roof bus valued at N27m was received from the businessman.
It was also disclosed that at different times between 2012 and 2014, Akpan also received a Toyota Hiace High Roof buses valued at N16m and six units of Toyota Hilux vehicles valued at N36m.
Justice Agatha Okeke who presided over the case, found the senator guilty of the offences.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, December 1, the court ruled that Akpan must serve seven years in prison for each of the six counts. The jail term is to run concurrently. There’s no option of fine.
Zamfara court grants bail to ex-information minister
The Zamfara State Shari’a Court has granted bail to former Information Minister, Ikra Bilbis.
Bilbis was arrested by the police last Tuesday and brought to the court for allegedly destroying billboards of the All Progressives Congress and other government property during a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday.
Delivering the judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Jibril Ibrahim, said he granted bail to the accused person based on sections 300 and 301 of the Zamfara State Shari’a Penal Code.
He, however, gave the accused person three conditions to fulfil.
He said, “Considering the fact that, both prosecutor and counsel for the accused person James Shaka have reached an agreement and based on sections 300 and 301 of the shari’a penal code I hereby grant bail to the accused person”.
“He should however fulfil the following conditions:
“He will bring two sureties. One of the sureties must be a serving permanent secretary in the state’s civil service.
“The other surety must have a house in Gusau town valued between N20 million and above.Ikra Aliyu Bilbis was the Minister of Information during the Goodluck administration and is currently contesting for a Senatorial position for Zamfara central zone.
He was arrested last Tuesday and detained at the state police headquarters in Gusau for allegedly taking part in the destruction of APC billboards and other government properties during a rally organized by the PDP gubernatorial candidate Dr Dauda Lawan Dare.
Five other PDP stalwarts included the gubernatorial candidate Dauda Lawan Dare, his deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni, PDP acting chairman, Muktar Lugga Salisu Maibuhu Gummi and Shehu Ahmed Regan.
The matter has been adjourned to December 14 2022 for further hearing.
Father and Uncle of boy allegedly arrested by DSS and Police speaks on how he was allegedly beaten on Aisha Buhari’s order
Father and uncle of Aminu Mohammed, a student of Federal University, Dutse, (FUD) Jigawa State, who has reportedly been languishing in detention after security officials comprising the police and men of the Department of State Service, allegedly arrested him over a Twitter post where he alleged that First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was feeding fat on poor people’s money, have opened up on his alleged travail.
Recounting how his son called him from detention in an interview with BBC Hausa, Aminu’s father pleaded with Aisha Buhari to forgive her son.
Shehu Baba Azare, Aminu’s uncle also told BBC Hausa that they need their son to be released to them.
He said;
“We were not aware of it until five days later, Aminu’s friend called my brother (Aminu’s father) and told him that he hadn’t seen Aminu for the last five days.
“The next day Aminu called his father and told him that he was arrested and taken to Aisha Buhari in Presidential Villa and he was beaten and detained. He said one of the security gave him his phone to make the call.
“Adamu (Aminu’s father) also told me that he was called from the university informing him that his son was arrested but without their knowledge. We are begging the First Lady, please forgive him, you are a mother”
Spokesperson for the FUD, Abdullahi Bello, who also commented on the development, said Aminu was trailed to Dutse where he was arrested.
He said;
“The university authorities have spoken to the parents who have already engaged the services of a lawyer to handle the matter and they are hopeful for an amicable resolution soon.”
I want to leave legacy of credible polls in West Africa and not only Nigeria – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that one of the legacies he wants to leave behind is free, fair, transparent elections and smooth transitions.
Buhari who said this on Monday, November 28, at the opening session of the 2022 second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja, also added that Nigeria is committed to peace and political stability in the sub-region.
He also promised that Nigeria will support efforts that will lead to the restoration of democratic governance in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
Buhari was quoted saying in the statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina;
“We are convinced that the sustenance of democracy and the rule of law should remain the norm in this promising region.
“There will be multiple political activities in some ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria, where general elections are due to be held in February and March 2023.
“Let me seize this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to free, fair and transparent elections and smooth transitions.
“This is one legacy that I want my administration to bequeath, not only to Nigeria but to the region as a whole.
“The vision of the founding fathers of ECOWAS was to have a West Africa that is integrated economically with harmonised policies, enjoying the free movement of persons, goods and services, as well as the seamless right to establishment.
“We must continue to strive harder to attain those objectives.
“Let us take advantage of existing mechanisms and our enterprising population to turn our dreams into reality.
“We have the capacity to do so. Let us collaborate more and remove our outdated physical and psychological boundaries and other colonially-inspired differences so our region can fully attain its full potential.”
UN urges media to encourage female politicians
The United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West Africa State, Beatrice Eyong, has urged the media in Nigeria to encourage women candidates in the 2023 general elections through their publications.
She gave this charge during the quarterly media dialogue with Media Executives and Chief Editors on Gender Responsive Reporting held in Lagos on Saturday.
The event was organised by the United Nations Women in partnership with the Canadian government and WFM Radio (Voice of Women).
Eyong lamented that the media has not been fair to female political aspirants and candidates in their reportage compared to their male counterparts.
She appealed to the media to support women’s participation through positive and gender-sensitive reportage.
“I appeal to you once again to harness the power of the media by using your respective media platforms to join this laudable project of supporting women through positive coverage as we move towards campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
I want to encourage ourselves to reaffirm our commitments to gender-sensitive reporting of electoral issues, including the positive portrayal of women to the public.”
Speaking further, the UN chief said the expansion of women’s representation in decision-making positions by ensuring that the rights of women and girls are respected globally.
She said it can be found in the conventions and additional texts and protocols ratified by the government of Nigeria.
“There can’t be sustainable development and peace as long as women are not involved. In all spheres of life they should be involved because if they are not actors, they are accomplices or victims,” she added.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Toun Sonaiya, called for media administrators to showcase and expose women aspirants and politicians through their various platforms.
At the event, a list of female candidates vying for different political seats across the country was presented and shared with the participants.
Governor Adeleke sacks monarchs appointed by Oyetola
Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed security agents to take over the palaces of Owa of Igbajo, Aree of Iree and Akinrun of Ikirun, who were appointed to the position by his immediate predecessor, Oyetola Gboyega.
The New Osun state Governor who had earlier reversed all appointments made by Oyetola in all Osun ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, boards and parastatals after July 17, suspended the monarchs in one of the executive orders he signed on Monday, November 28.
Spokesperson for Osun governor, Olawale Rasheed, who released a statement on the contents of the six orders signed by Adeleke, said all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration after July 17, 2022, would be reviewed.
The statement read; “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has issued six executive orders to take immediate effect.
“The orders signed this morning by His Excellency covered chieftaincy matters, appointment issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.
“Each of the executive orders are reproduced below:
1. Executive order on state bank accounts“I, hereby, order the immediate freezing of all government accounts in all banks and other financial institutions.
2. Executive order number two on staff audit“All Heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals of Osun State Government are hereby directed to carry out an immediate staff audit of the actual number of government workers in their various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals, as of July 17, 2022, and should file a report to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor stating the full details and position/designation of each of the staff on the forwarded list within seven working days from the date of this Executive order using the attached Oath of Fidelity Template.
3. Executive Order number 3 on Employment“All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions , Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified.
4. Executive order four on appointments
“All appointments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after 17th July, 2022 be and are hereby reversed.
5. Executive order number five on chieftaincy affairs and appointment of traditional rulers.
“All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.
In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.
6. Executive order number six setting up review committees.
Adeleke directs LG heads to replace sacked chairmen
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has directed career heads of local government areas and Area Councils Development Areas in the state to take control and charge of their councils from the sacked council chairmen and councillors.
The directive is contained in a statement issued by Adeleke’s Spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed.According to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, Adeleke says the directive is with immediate effect.
“Governor Adeleke also directed the most senior career heads across all the local government areas to take charge of their councils.
“This is in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo that sacked the council local government chairmen and councillors,” the government said.
NAN reports that Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, on Friday, declared the local government election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission as null and void.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel delivered the judgment based on a Peoples Democratic Party suit, asking the court to stop the OSIEC from conducting the Osun October 15 local government election.
The judge, in his judgment, stated that the local government election that was subsequently held by OSIEC was held in contravention of sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Reacting to the ruling, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Osun, Mr Abiodun Idowu, called on its members to remain calm and peaceful.Idowu said the leadership of their party – the All Progressives Congress and all the chairmen across the 69 LGAs, ACDAs had filed a ‘Notice of Appeal and Stay of Execution’ against the ruling.
Presidency advices Nigerians to leave the country if migrating legally is good for them
The presidency has insisted that the recent increase in migration from Nigeria is not peculiar to the country alone or a new development.
Appearing on a Channels Television program on Sunday, November 27, presidential aide Femi Adesina stated that the average Nigerian have always wanted to leave and people should not equate it to something being wrong.
Adesina said;
“The average Nigerian had always wanted to leave. And it is not just in Nigeria. It is in most countries of the world, particularly in the third world.
“They always believe that it is greener on the other side.
“You see, the truth is that if you have an opportunity to better yourself in any part of the world, there is nothing wrong with it. If you think migrating legally is good for you, all well and good. By all means, go!
“But you cannot now say that because people are leaving, then it is a sign that something is fundamentally wrong.
“There are Nigerians who would never leave the country no matter how things are”.
Adesina also spoke about the country’s security, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would hand over a safer country.
He added;
“No doubt about it. He would leave a safer country. When he came in 2015, you could not be sure Nigeria would exist in the next one month. As of 2015, what was happening was that nobody could confidently say that Nigeria would be on the map in the following next week, month or year. But we saw that he came and took the battle to the insurgency.
“When he came, the insurgency was the main thing and he took the battle to them. Then, it became hydra-headed – banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cultism, and separatist agitations joined. How many challenges can one administration really confront? That’s the issue with the Buhari administration. From day one till now, it was from one challenge to the other.”
Governor Adeleke freezes Osun government’s accounts, sacks Oyetola’s appointees
Ademola Adeleke carried out some executive actions shortly after being sworn-in as Governor of Osun state.
Adeleke ordered immediate freezing of all accounts of the state and also reversed all appointments Adegboyega Oyetola, his predecessor, made from July 17, 2022, till he left office.
The new Osun state Governor who revealed that he would constitute a committee that would review all appointments and make recommendations, also reversed the Osun appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to “The State of the Living Spring”.
Adeleke also noted that he’s aware of the expectations of Osun residents, adding that he’ll not disappoint them.
PVCs and other items destroyed as fire guts INEC office in Ebonyi
Several Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other items were destroyed after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was gutted by fire on November 27.
A statement released by INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the fire incident occurred around 10.00 am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze.
“Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed.
These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).”he said
Okoye stated that security agencies have been informed about the most recent incident and that an investigation has started.
“Sadly, this is the third attack on our local government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun states on 10th November 2022,” Okoye said
Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Okowa, Others Head To Osun For Adeleke’s Inauguration
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, are on their way to Osun State for the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke as the next governor of the state.
Others accompanying the duo were the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others.
Atiku shared photos of him and his entourage at Ibadan, on their way to Osun.
APC Presidential Rally In Lagos
The All Progressives Congress, on Saturday held a rally to promote its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The stadium was filled with supporters of the former Lagos governor.
Governor Umahi’s son graduates with a Master’s degree from UK university
Osborn Nweze Umahi, son of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has graduated with a Master’s Degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen in UK.
Osborn had earned his first degree in Engineering from Surrey University.
Tinubu Bags Chieftaincy Title In Ebonyi
The Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council has conferred a traditional title on the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
According to Chooks Oko, an aide to the Ebonyi State governor.
Dave Umahi, the APC candidate was given the title of ‘Dike Di Ora Nma’ which means ‘Hero that is loved by the people.’
The conferment took place during a town hall meeting on Wednesday in the state.
Presidential candidate Peter Obi and Soludo Meets In Anambra
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on Thursday, meet in Akwa.
The duo met at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka during the Thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday.
This meeting comes a few days after Soludo bashed Obi and dismissed his chances at the poll.
