Politics

ANALYSIS: Atiku under storms as Fayose, Ortom, Obasanjo fire salvos

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Atiku Abubakar faces a major hurdle. Since the commencement of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, no president has been elected to succeed another from the same region of Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar

 is entangled in a web of controversies, roughly one month after clinching the ticket of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the second consecutive presidential election.

The complex crises ricocheting on the front burner of national discourse concern moral standing, zonal propriety and the democratic style of the PDP candidate.

The Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Wednesday landed uppercuts on Mr Abubakar’s presidential quest. While Mr Ortom criticised him for not choosing Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, the candidate overwhelmingly recommended by a 17-member advisory committee of which the Benue governor was a member, as his running mate, Mr Fayose emphatically reaffirmed his commitment to power shift to the southern half of Nigeria in 2023.

Governor Samuel Ortom, governor of Benua state.

Mr Ortom accused the candidate of failing to honour the democratic choice in the selection of his running mate. He also berated him for failing to reach out to Mr Wike and other aggrieved members of the party after picking Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, for the slot.

Mr Ortom, who spoke in an interview on Arise TV, said he was waiting for God’s direction on whether to campaign for his party’s presidential candidate or not.

On his own part, Mr Fayose, through his verified Twitter handle, stated that it was important for power to return to the South after the eight-year rule of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from Katsina State in the North-west geopolitical zone.

Atiku, PDP, Fayose and the North-South power rotation

Since his emergence as the PDP candidate against the grain of the rotational understanding, Mr Abubakar has been carrying the moral hunch of running away with a ticket that ought to have been held by someone from the southern part of the country. As the incumbent president, the opposition candidate is a Fulani-Muslim from the defunct Northern Region.

Nigeria, as a single entity, was formed through the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates of the British colonial empire on January 1, 1914. Based on a common understanding anchored on the need to foster unity and inclusiveness among the citizenry, the PDP enshrined rotation in its constitution.

Former Ekiti State governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose.

Mr Fayose in his tweet harped on that provision when he contended that: “The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the party shall pursue its aims and objectives by ‘adhering to the policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.”

He added: “The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING. Awa ‘South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon.”

Since the commencement of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, no democratically elected president from either north or south has taken over power from an outgoing president from his own section or region of the country. Similarly, no president from one ethnic group has handed over to another president from his own ethnic group.

In a complex country like Nigeria, with more than 250 ethnic groups, this scenario may weigh against Mr Abubakar when all the variables and analytics are put on the table in the approach to the 2023 general elections.

However, the zoning brouhaha is by no means the only moral burden resting on Mr Abubakar’s shoulders. There is an overhang of corruption allegations and counter-allegations.

FILE: Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), Walid Jibrin.

Obasanjo’s salvo and Jibrin’s ultimatum

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP, Walid Jibrin, on Monday called out former President Olusegun Obasanjo and gave him 48 hours to clarify his statement that his choice of Mr Abubakar as his running mate in the 1999 presidential election was a mistake. Mr Jibrin, a northern Fulani-Muslim like Mr Abubakar, threatened to expose Mr Obasanjo unless the former president withdraws the statement.

Mr Jibrin said he would be left with no option but to expose the former president and tell Nigerians and the whole world who Mr Obasanjo is in reality if he failed to explain his statement about Mr Abubakar.

Mr Jibrin, who addressed a press conference in Kaduna, said despite the high regard the PDP has for the former president, it would be very disappointing if he indeed made the statement credited to him (Obasanjo) and carried by virtually all the nation’s news platforms.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

He said the statement, among others, that he made a mistake in picking Mr Abubakar as his running mate in 1999 was worrisome.

Mr Walid’s 48 hours ultimatum expired Wednesday without a response from Mr Obasanjo or Mr Jibrin as to his next line of action.

Mr Obasanjo, while reflecting on his political experience, during an interaction with some students, on Saturday, remarked that one of the costly mistakes he made in life was his choice of Mr Abubakar as his running mate in 1999.

Mr Obasanjo, who was fielding questions from selected secondary school students that participated in the final of the National Exhibition and Awards organised by Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, said his mistake in choosing Mr Abubakar psychologically impacted him.

The former president said, in response to a question by one of the students, “One of the mistakes I made was picking my number two when I wanted to become the president. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me…I will say there are many things that could have been a mistake but God saved me from them all.”

Mr Obasanjo was President of Nigeria between May 29, 1999, and May 29, 2007 with Mr Abubakar as the Vice President. After serving their first four-year term from 1999 to 2003, he re-nominated Mr Abubakar as his running mate in the 2003 election which they won despite their fractured relationship.

Atiku in Obasanjo’s lens

Preparatory to the unveiling of his memoir titled ‘My Watch’, Mr Obasanjo in December 2014 called his former deputy a ‘shameless liar’ amid other accusations.

“Those who can be regarded as influential and who have publicly accused me of allegedly manipulating a third term were Atiku Abubakar, who is a blatant and shameless liar, who was behind the whole episode of turning wholesome constitutional amendment efforts of the National Assembly to a futile exercise and as a means of riding on its ashes to be Nigerian President.

“Third term was not my agenda or intention although I would not say I didn’t know about it. I didn’t mastermind third term. Those who were telling me to go on were the governors that were going to benefit from it.

“If I did not want tenure elongation when I was military Head of State and had need to, I see no reason why I should be falsely accused of coup planning by Abacha and tenure elongation by Atiku.”

On pages 31 and 32 of the book, MY WATCH proper, Mr Obasanjo wrote about the former Vice President: “What I did not know, which came out glaringly later, was his parental background which was somewhat shadowy, his propensity to corruption, his tendency to disloyalty, his inability to say and stick to the truth all the time, a propensity for poor judgment, his belief and reliance on marabouts, his lack of transparency, his trust in money to buy his way out on all issues and his readiness to sacrifice morality, integrity, propriety truth and
national interest for self and selfish interest.”

The former vice president on his part had fought his former boss over the third term plot to remain in office beyond eight years.

In an interview with a Hausa newspaper, RARIYA, which was translated to English and published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2013, Mr Abubakar claimed that Mr Obasanjo nursed the ambition of tenure elongation. The former vice president said one of the instances he had altercations with President Obasanjo was about the third term ambition.

Mr Abubakar quoted Mr Obasanjo as stating as follows while craving his support for a controversial third term in office as against the maximum of two terms enshrined in the constitution: “I left power 20 years ago, I left Mubarak in office, I left Mugabe in office, I left Eyadema in office, I left Omar Bongo, and even Paul Biya and I came back and they are still in power; and I just did eight years and you are asking me to go; why?”

Mr Abubakar said he responded by telling him that Nigeria is not Libya, not Egypt, not Cameroon, not Zimbabwe and not Togo. “I said (to Obasanjo) you must leave; even if it means both of us lose out, but you cannot stay.”

Messrs Fayose and Obasanjo’s missiles have again brought into public focus, the moral issues surrounding Mr Abubakar’s perennial presidential aspiration.

With Mr Fayose’s usurpation clanger added to the familiar Obasanjo salvos, the former vice president’s incubus in the coming election is now two-pronged – the odium of corruption painted by Mr Obasanjo and the Southern tenure grabbing red flag raised by Mr Fayose.

The array of accusations, true or false, is certain to negatively affect Mr Abubakar by making many people distrust him.

However, Mr Abubakar and his political foot soldiers are not resting on their oars as they have continued to respond to the allegations, dismissing some of them as baseless products of bilious politics.

PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu

PDP’s negative perception

Shrugging off the charges is a task not just for the presidential candidate but also for his party leadership under its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. The main opposition party, which ruled Nigeria for 16 years between 1999 and
2015, is still seen by many critics as a platform that willingly lent itself as an organ for the perpetration of sleaze and sundry opaque deals in governance.

The presidential primary of the party in Abuja which produced Mr Abubakar as the candidate was also suspected to have been egregiously dollarized. On the eve of the PDP presidential primary, one of the aspirants, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, withdrew, alleging that the contest had been ‘obscenely monetized’.

Mr Hayatu-Deen’s withdrawal came a few days after another contender, Peter Obi, withdrew from the race and resigned entirely from the PDP. Mr Obi cited ‘recent developments within the PDP’ which were incongruent with his moral conscience and made it impossible for him to continue participating and making constructive contributions.

A few days after, Mr Obi joined the Labour Party and emerged as its presidential candidate. His message, which centres on low consumption, productivity and frugality, has been making impact especially among the youthful segments of the population.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

PDP and the Wike dilemma

Mr Wike may be the proverbial last straw that will break the camel’s back as far as Mr Abubakar’s controversial presidential bid is concerned. He is believed to be incensed over Mr Abubakar’s ambition and alleged shifty stance. Judging by Mr Wike’s well-known stance on power rotation and the manner he was elbowed out at the presidential primary in May, will PDP be able to pacify and rekindle his faith in the party?

Mr Fayose exclusively told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that he could wager that Mr Wike would never support the current presidential bid of Mr Abubakar. The former Ekiti State governor insisted that power must shift to the southern part of Nigeria in 2023 after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

Mr Fayose exclusively told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that he could wager that Mr Wike would never support the current presidential bid of Mr Abubakar. The former Ekiti State governor insisted that power must shift to the southern part of Nigeria in 2023 after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

So far, Mr Okowa’s choice has not excited many PDP apparatchiks in the South, including some incumbent and former governors like Mr Fayose, and Mr Okowa’s two predecessors as governor of Delta State – James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan.

“Wike never said he wanted to be VP, but when Atiku visited him, he was the one who said, ‘I want you to be my VP’. He said that to Wike. If that then changes, is Wike not supposed to be told? Is he not supposed to know?” Mr Fayose told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Fayose berated Mr Abubakar for ignoring the recommendation of a committee set up by the PDP leadership to shortlist his running mate. “PDP set up a committee to recommend a running mate for the candidate and the committee voted and picked Wike, but they didn’t comply with the recommendation of the committee,” Mr Fayose fumed.

“If the party is now a one-man show, we will show them that we can resist it. We are with Wike 100 per cent. When they need Wike’s money and Wike’s support, they will say, ‘Wike is good enough’. Wike has been injured, but we will remain with him. Whatever he does is what we would do; wherever he asks us to go is where we will go,” the former Ekiti governor declared.

Peter Obi & Bola Tinubu

Obi and Tinubu: who benefits?

In the evolving context, either the Labour Party’s (LP) Mr Obi or Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who are the leading candidates from the South, may profit handsomely from the widening rift in the PDP, with the former being the likely beneficiary.

The ruling party is already a crowded platform by bigwigs who may not easily yield space for big rivals like Messrs Wike, Fayose and other aggrieved PDP chieftains.

On the other hand, the LP, apart from the cult following of its presidential candidate by the youth, is still literally a tabula rasa waiting to be annexed by gladiators. That position makes the party an attractive platform for aggrieved secret backers from the two leading parties – PDP and APC. Such covert backers can only come to the fore if their gambit succeeds in pulling an upset victory for the supported candidate.

Mr Fayose was non-committal when asked whether they would support either Obi or Tinubu. “This is not about Bola Tinubu or Obi, but this is about our belief that power must come to the South and it is a struggle we must actualise.

“This time, it is the turn of the South because Buhari has spent eight years. Why will PDP be insisting that it must again be the turn of the north?”

Mr Fayose also stated that he does not care if his actions are perceived as anti-party activity.

“What I am saying is, it is the turn of the South? And if they want to expel me, to hell with them. I am not taking money from anyone to belong to this party.

“If they want to rock this boat, we will help them to rock it,” the outspoken former Ekiti governor declared.

With these signals, accentuated by Mr Obasanjo’s darts, the PDP presidential candidate certainly has enough political, psychological and moral burdens to bear.

As things presently stand, all the commanding positions in the PDP are held by members from one region – the presidential flag bearer, National Chairman and the BoT Chairman.

Indeed, Mr Abubakar and the PDP leadership have a gargantuan task to stem the worsening tide and restore the confidence of all the stakeholders in the party.

Mr Abubakar, on Thursday, acknowledged that many leaders of his party were uncomfortable with his emergence and his choices. He promised to listen to their complaints.

“The @OfficialPDPNig will remain united. Focus on our actions. We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members. The unity in our community is my priority. Our resolve to unify Nigeria starts in our party and moves to the community, then on to society,” he wrote on Twitter.

Politics

Pity Nigeria’s next president

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It will be 24 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria by May 2023. I can still vividly  remember the wave of joy the country felt when the then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed over to the newly elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on May 29, 1999.

At last, Nigeria would start her journey to growth and sustainability for all. The then President Obasanjo, in his speech, described the day as “the beginning of a genuine renaissance” in Nigeria. The word renaissance comes from a French word meaning “rebirth.” In hindsight, was it truly the beginning of a genuine rebirth in Nigeria?

The political structure in Nigeria has been largely criticised by many as being laden with corruption, godfatherism and a lack of visionary approach to leadership. So much so that many in their pain and naivety have wished for Nigeria’s return to military dictatorship in the hopes of some form of sanity and economic stability. This largely owes to the seeming steadiness of the exchange rate from the day the late General Sani Abacha took power in 1993 till the day he died on June 8, 1998. For a period of five years, the exchange rate of the naira to dollar never changed from N22 to $1, while on the parallel market, the naira was trading as high as N88 to $1 (using the word ‘high’ to qualify N88 to $1 in 2022 might be a stretch but you get the point).

It is, however, important to note that democracy, no matter how problematic it might seem at the moment in Nigeria, is the closest to what we can get in terms of a system that can protect everyone. The almost 24 years of democracy under two prominent political parties—Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress—may be seen as some form of progress despite existing challenges.

Sadly, Nigeria has missed opportunities, truncated dreams and lost talents. Many sectors of the economy have suffered backwardness. Education is in a state of a cry for help. Security has degenerated so much that the average citizen sees the safety of their lives and property as their personal responsibility. There is the issue of police brutality that led to the #EndSARS movement. Also, the country is wallowing in massive debts. Inflation is on an all-time high, with Nigerians lacking the ability to afford three square meals, which has become a luxury. Even the power sector is so inflated with corruption that solutions deployed by smaller countries to generate power are so cumbersome for our leaders to deploy. According to the Nigeria Bureau of statistics, the rate of unemployment was 33% in 2019 and is likely to have increased as many lost their jobs during the pandemic. It appears that the country is crumbling with a lot of problems.

Nigeria is at a crossroads and people are expecting a miracle. One of my professional colleagues once said, “Nigeria is not something that anyone will want to acquire if it were to be personal property.” Hence, I pity the next President of Nigeria.

The last seven years of our lives as Nigerians have been excruciating. This is not to say that the present regime under the leadership of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has failed in every area. However, communication is key and this regime has failed in terms of communication and carrying the populace along in the little progresses made. The concept of servant leadership has been trampled upon.

According to a publication on OCED.org, Nigeria is the largest Black nation in the world: “One of every four Africans and one out of every five persons of African origin is a Nigerian.” This speaks to the power, talent, skills and resilience we have as a people. Nigerians are amazing people – industrious, innovative, creative, bold, kind, family-oriented, hardworking, etc. Young people have argued that they only need an enabling environment in order to survive and build the country they desire. They want leadership but leadership with all the progressive qualities of a visionary leader.

Leadership is service, management and hard work. Whoever emerges the president of Nigeria come 2023, be it Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP or Peter Obi of Labour Party, Nigerians are expecting that change promised by President Buhari in 2015. It doesn’t matter that the next President did not make this promise; that expectation just comes with the territory of being the president of Nigeria. As such, fighting corruption and seeing true change is now an inherited campaign promise and the next president needs to be seen to hit the ground running from day one and ensure that true positive change happens.

It’s important to pay attention to the campaign season of the coming election (September/October). Beyond asking what, we must begin to ask, “How?!”

Just as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who is the PDP Presidential running mate, said on Politics Today on Channels TV, it’s a common fight for hope.

The struggle for change remains constant.

Politics, World News

Breaking: FG engages lawyers for Ekweremadu

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Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom has engaged the services of lawyers to defend the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice.

Lawan made this known on Wednesday while giving details about the outcome of a closed session held by the upper chamber before the start of plenary proceedings.

The closed-door session which started at about 10:57 a.m ended at 11:49 a.m.

The PUNCH reports Ekweremadu, alongside his wife, was arrested by the UK Metropolitan Police last Tuesday for conspiracy to harvest the organs of a minor.

Ekweremadu and his wife allegedly facilitated David’s entry into the UK to transplant his kidney into their daughter, Sonia, who is suffering from kidney failure.

The couple was arraigned at the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in London on charges of conspiracy and organ harvest on Thursday.

But speaking on Wednesday, Lawan said a delegation from its Committee on Foreign Affairs would depart Nigeria for London on July 1, 2022, to pay a visit to the embattled couple presently in detention over an allegation of organ harvesting.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant (Press) to Lawan, Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, titled, ‘Senate delegation to visit Ekweremadu, wife in London’.

According to Lawan, the decision to wade into Ekweremadu’s arrest and detention was against the backdrop of a briefing received by the Nigerian High Commissioner to London.

He further disclosed that the Senate would engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian High Commission in London on the recent arrest of Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the London Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.

He said, “I had a personal engagement with our Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Alhaji Isola Sarafa, who has done so well to establish contact with our colleague, who has been able to get his team to be in the court at Uxbridge where Ekweremadu was taken to.

“The high Commission has also been able to provide some consular services that include the engagement of some lawyers who will defend our colleague.

“We commend them for giving attention to the issue at stake. Equally, the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister has been engaged here, so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes steps to provide diplomatic support for our colleague.

“Because this issue is already in court, we have limited opportunity to discuss beyond what we have done so far.

“But I want to ensure the family of our colleague, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Nigerians, that the Senate will continue to engage with our ministry of foreign affairs as well as our high commission in London.

“The High Commission has done so much but we still expect that it will continue to provide any other further consular services.

“We have also mandated our committee on foreign affairs to engage with the British high commission here in Nigeria, to find more details on this case, as as far as the high commission is involved.

“There will be a delegation to London to see Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate will leave in the next two days to London for that purpose.

“I want to urge all federal government institutions that can do anything to ensure that justice prevails in this case, that they do so.”

Politics, World News

I’m yet to receive God’s approval to support my party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar – Governor Ortom

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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said that he is yet to receive God’s approval to support his party, Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. 

Ortom who criticized Atiku’s choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state as his running mate over Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, stated that he will be supporting Atiku’s presidential bid only if God directs him.

In the interview on Arise TV on Wednesday June 29, the Benue state Governor praised Wike as “somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked”. He also said “some of us believed in him” as the party’s best choice for the vice-presidential candidate.

Ortom said; 

“All of us have our weapon; Wike can be ‘something something’ but when it comes to mobilisation, impact, value addition and reaching out to make sure that the party works the man is an instrument. He’s somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked. Some of us believed in him, but unfortunately, it was somebody else. But the party is supreme,” he said.

“However, some of us have resorted to prayers. I have been in hibernation. We’ve resorted to prayer: ‘Lord God, where do we go from here.’ I believe as a Christian that power belongs to God. The Bible says a man can receive nothing except it is given to him from above.

“I am praying. I have gone into hibernation. I am fasting and praying. So in the end, if God directs me that I should support Atiku, why should I not do it? After all, he’s my party member. But I am waiting for him to do more. I expect him to reach out to Wike, who came second in the presidential primary. The man he denied the popular view of the PDP members — 14 out of 17 — who said Wike should be the vice-presidential candidate. I expect more explanation. I expect him to talk to Wike — whom we are supporting — first. I expect him to reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party.”

Politics, World News

Knocks, praises as Yoruba actors openly endorse Tinubu.

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Nigerians were on Wednesday divided on social media following the open endorsement of All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, by the Yoruba Nollywood actors.

While some backed the choice of the actors, others claimed that the same set of thespians was among those who allegedly foist the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and attendant maladministration on Nigeria in 2015 and 2019.

The PUNCH reports that support for the APC presidential candidate receive a boost on Wednesday as Yoruba Nollywood superstars openly endorsed the former Lagos State governor.

The thespians noted that their support for the APC national leader had become imperative following his support for the movie industry, practitioners, and the ex-governor’s influence across the country.

The actors made their position known in a video clip shared by a veteran actor, Yinka Quadri, where some of his colleagues took turns to endorse Tinubu’s candidacy.

Those featured in the video clip were Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan, Femi Adebayo, Shola Kosoko, Faithia Williams, Saheed Balogun, Murphy Afolabi, and Eniola Ajao among others.

But reacting to the endorsement, Nigerians on Twitter expressed concern over the Yoruba actors’ support for Tinubu at a time when the country allegedly needed a fresh hand with ideas as a leader.

@Theabiolasteven wrote, “The persons’ morality and integrity are to be questioned in the first place. Nollywood Yoruba as always been a hall of shame since time beyond, hungry sets of men and women. If the women are not Mc Oluomo short time knacks then the men are stomach infrastructure wobiyas.”

@Ifeadigoh also wrote, “Tinubu supporters have a tribalistic strategy that focuses on provoking the people from South East. They do this to get a reaction from the South Easterners which they would use to prove that South Easterners don’t like Yoruba. Divide and Conquer!”

@_Samcleave said, “You cannot watch Nollywood Yoruba, see how 95% of their products are senseless, and still think those that own that industry has any cognition to influence your electoral choices.”

@Letter_to_Jack wrote, “The only place canceling can get to Yoruba actors is IG Live and no one who’s dedicated to watching live videos of celebrities fanning vawulence will ever cancel them for any reason. They are out of reach on this one.

@PoojaMedia tweeted, “Okey Bakassi/Psquare endorse Peter Obi = They know the right it, it’s their right. Yoruba actors endorse Tinubu = They are canceled, why only Yoruba, tribal people. Focus on your candidate cos there will still be endorsements from your fav celebrities for their candidates.”

@ManLikeIcey wrote, “Psquare are free to support Peter Obi, it’s their right. Yoruba actors/actresses are free to support Tinubu, it’s their right. You’re equally allowed to support your preferred candidate, it’s your right. Don’t bully people for their constitutional right.

@AsiwajuOladimej said, “P Square campaigned for Obi. Obidients: Yes, this is good. They are Patriots. They are Democrats blah blah blah. Yoruba Actors campaigned for BAT. Obidients: They are bigots. They are tribalistic. They’ve been paid. Hypocrisy 101!”

@Taiwoalabiho2 – “A group of Yoruba actors made a jingle for BAT and you started ranting. Psquare, Phyno, Flavour and a number of South-South & South-Eastern celebrities are rallying support for Peter Obi, so what’s the problem? We cannot move forward with these double standards.”

@Wizarab10 – “Why are you insulting them? You don’t know what BAT has done for them or the Yoruba movie industry. Many of you don’t watch Yoruba movies anyway. Support your own, let them support their own. It is not affecting you.”

@IsoloShoemaker – “P-Square and others can support Peter Obi, but it becomes a sin when Yoruba actors campaign for Tinubu. Look at yourself and say to yourself “I am stupid”.”

@ThisIsAdemuyiwa – “What kinda campaign is this for goodness sake? You have attacked muslims cos Tinubu is a Muslim. You are now attacking Yorubas as if blackmailing and insults are the only available strategies. Sad to see the supposedly educated Nigerians UNLOOKING. It will be LABOUR IN VAIN!”

@lollylarry1 – “Why are u people angry about Yoruba Nollywood actors declaring support 4 Tinubu? You are claiming they got paid, so tell me, how much was Psquare paid 4 endorsing & campaigning 4 Peter Obi? You ppl hav not seen anything, by d time Ohaneze declare support 4 Tinubu, you’ll be shocked.”

@Ifeadigoh – “Tinubu supporters have been attacking Psquare for supporting Peter Obi, it didn’t work, they resort to blackmailing some Yoruba artistes with “Igbo artistes are supporting their own” How do you expect them to support a corrupt, selfish and thief like Tinubu? They get sense ni!”

Politics, World News

Court stops Oyo Assembly from deputy gov’s removal

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An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has stopped the state House of Assembly from going ahead with the impeachment process against the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan.

Justice Ladiran Akintola gave the order on Wednesday when the case filed by the deputy governor came up for hearing before him.

Justice Akintola ordered that the status quo antem be maintained until the determination of the suit filed against the lawmakers by the embattled deputy governor.

The court adjourned the matter to July 5 to allow the House to file its reply to the claims of the deputy governor.

Olaniyan was represented by his counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashani (SAN), while the lawmakers were represented by the Director of Legal Services, O. Olabanji.

The House of Assembly dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party had initiated impeachment and moved against Olaniyan following his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

The lawmakers had two weeks ago initiated an impeachment move against Olaniyan with 23 of them signing the impeachment notice.

The House in a letter read by the clerk accused the deputy governor of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and insubordination among other allegations.

Olaniyan had also filed his response to the allegations against him and the lawmakers had said the matter would come up for discussion on Wednesday but the order of the court would have altered their plan.

Politics

Buhari Moves To Halt APC 22 Senators’ Defection As Defeated Aspirants Storm Aso Rock

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday moved to stem the exodus of Senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) following their inability to get return tickets to the National Assembly.

Meeting with some of them including Senator Smart Adeyemi who was led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he noted their concerns about the future of the ruling party but praised their effort to find a solution.

The President assured them that as the leader of the party, one of his roles is to create an environment for members to vent their grievances.

He said he had noted their concerns over the outcomes of the just concluded party primaries, the threat to the majority held by the APC in the National Assembly and its likely consequences to the fortunes of the party.

While pointing out that there must be a winner and loser in every contest, he revealed that he had been inundated with complaints about the primaries, assuring that he would continue to address the challenges through the party machinery.

He urged party members to exercise restraint, promising that justice would be done.

The President said: “I thank you for the decision to approach me with your concerns over the future of the party and for pursuing a solutions approach for the challenges thrown up by the recent election-related activities, particularly the Primaries.

“As the leader of the party, one of my primary roles is to ensure that our culture of internal democracy and dispute resolution is strengthened by creating the opportunity for members to ventilate their opinions, views and grievances at different levels.

“Notwithstanding the fact that we have accomplished 23 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, our journey is still in a nascent stage and we continue to learn from our challenges and mistakes.

“Similarly our party is still evolving in its culture and practice and it is my expectations and hope that we should attain a mature level in our internal conduct.

“I have noted your grievances particularly as it concerns the just concluded processes. The cost to the nation, the threat to the majority of positions held by our party in the legislative chambers and likely consequent causes to the electoral fortune of the party as we approach the General elections. We must not allow these dire threats to come to pass.

“I must acknowledge that in every contest there must be a level playing ground, just as there would be grievances at the end. That is the test of our democratic credentials, systems and practices.

“I have since the conclusion of the process been inundated with various reports and complaints. In keeping with our ethos therefore I shall continue to address the insuring challenges and grievances through the party machinery while paying keen attention to the outcomes.

“I must also remind you of the primary primacy of justice in all our actions if Justice is denied its outcome is usually unpleasant, this is because you the members keep the party running. I should add that as part of the policy of using the party machinery for effective resolutions of conflict, the chairman and some members of the national working committee visited the National Assembly recently to dialogue with our legislators.

“The leadership of the party is currently addressing the outcomes as part of the way forward. I am encouraging all party functionaries to adhere to the truth and to be fair to all parties in any dispute. This is important because our strength and victory in the election lie in the unity of the party in our ability to prevent or heal any injustice perceived unread.

“I urge you and all party members to exercise restraint and continue to demonstrate commitment to the ideals while we continue to build and develop the party and the country.

“Finally, Let me assure you that Justice shall prevail, aggrieved members shall be assuaged in the interest of the party and the nation shall be protected.’

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Kalu, said at least 22 senators and members of the party were unhappy with the outcome of the primaries in their states, noting that they felt disenfranchised by the process.

He said the legislators had made sacrifices for the growth of the party and democracy in the country, asking for the President’s kind intervention.

“Mr President, in the Senate we have worked hard and consistently sold your programmes beyond party lines. Be assured always of our support,” he added.

Politics

Govs more responsible for states’ development than President –Fashola

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The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday, said governors were more responsible for the development of their states than the President of the country.

In his speech at the 6th edition of the Gabfest, an annual programme of the minister, Fashola also pointed out that state governors were responsible for the security of citizens in their states alongside the Federal Government.

He said, “I do not know how many recall the contents of my speech about how I tried to show how more important the governor of my state is to my development than the President of Nigeria.

“For example, I pointed out that there is nowhere in the constitution that security is listed as the responsibility of the Federal Government or President alone.

“In the second schedule of the constitution where the responsibility of the Federal Government is set only, you will see responsibility for the police, the armed forces etc, which are law enforcement agencies; but you will not see the word ‘security’.”

He added, “If you take a narrow view of what security entails, you might be tempted to conclude that this is only a federal affair.

“But if you understand that these, agencies except for the deterrence that they may offer, usually arrive when there is a breach of security.”

The minister stated that security was an all-government affair.

“This is supported by section 14 2(b) of the constitution where the word ‘security’ is used. It provides that: ‘(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” Fashola stated.

He added, “It does not say which government and my view is that it is every government; local, state and federal.”

He said security, therefore, involved more than the deployment of armed personnel.

“It is the effective deployment of socio-economic resources to create a state of harmony,” the minister stated.

He added, “Breaches of security have evolved from conflicts over land, for which the Federal Government has no responsibility or control, to conflict over natural resources over which the Federal Government has responsibility and control.

“Governors have as much a responsibility to keep us safe. It starts in my view with how they oversee the development of the human capital. This is less of a federal responsibility and more of state because people live in states.”

Politics, World News

Aregbesola laments rising inmate population, seeks 12-month trial.

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said the increasing number of inmates awaiting trial is having a toll on the custodian centres and the available resources for the service. 

Aregbesola, who blamed the congestion of prisons on the slow dispensation of justice, proposed that from the arrest of suspects to the conclusion of their cases in court, the period should not go beyond a year. 

He expressed confidence that this was possible, adding that it took him 42 months to reclaim his mandate in Osun State but now took less than a year to conclude election tribunal cases. 

Aregbesola spoke on day two of the Nigerian Correctional Service retreat for senior officers in Sokoto on Tuesday. 

The minister said, “Let there be a strong advocacy for rapid dispensation of justice. When I went to court to get my mandate that was stolen in Osun the process lasted 42 months. It was precisely six months to the expiration of the tenure that my mandate was returned. 

“It was that experience that forced the judiciary to say every litigation on governorship election must not last more than a year and since then they have kept to it. To reduce the number of inmates awaiting trial we must ensure that the time from arrest to conviction must not go beyond a year. 

“If this is done, we will reduce the large percentage of inmates in our correctional centers. We will also be able to reduce the humongous cost of feeding them and the lack of not having enough resources. 

“If we can reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates by cutting short the period of trial to a maximum of 12 months the amount we are going to save from feeding them will be enough to revamp the service and our centers.”

Aregbesola also bemoaned what he described as unbefitting status of some of the correctional facilities across the country, urging the personnel to mobilize community efforts to change the facial appearance of the facilities.

Politics, World News

Court dismisses fresh bail application for Nnamdi Kanu.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a fresh application for bail by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The application was filed pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge against him by the Federal Government.

Kanu, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), also challenged the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.

He asked the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.

The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.

While contending that he was denied a fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed from Isreal, after he fled from the country.

Meanwhile, dismissing the bail request on Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.

The trial judge noted that from records of the court, Kanu was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.

“In fact, he sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabouts of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter.

“Therefore, Defendant was not denied a fair hearing”.

Justices Nyako also held that though a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason, “in the instant case, I have not been given any, neither have I been given any reason to set aside the order.

“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.

“If the Defendant is dissatisfied, he has the Appeal Court to go to. This application is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Nyako said.

The Judge had also on March 18, declined to release the embattled IPOB leader on bail.

The court maintained that Kanu must explain the reason why he breached the previous bail that was given to him, before he could enjoy another favourable discretion from it.

“Until the issue of the absence of the defendant for his trial, with all the bail conditions breached, is determined, the instant application of the defendant for bail will at best be premature and it is refused.

“However, the defendant is at liberty to re-file the application”, Justice Nyako said.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned till November 14 for mention, to await the outcome of Kanu’s appeal.

Politics, World News

“Take your hate to the court” Apostle Johnson Suleman tells those criticizing him after he prayed for Ike Ekweremadu.

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Apostle Johnson Suleman is receiving heat after he took to Twitter to pray that God will see Ike Ekweremadu and his family through.

Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organs of a child.

The Ekweremadus needed the boy’s kidney for their daughter, Sonia, who is suffering from a kidney problem.

Reacting to the news, Apostle Suleman wrote on Twitter: “Heard about the travails of the former deputy senate president,may God see him through..may God protect their child and spare her life.. Thank GOD for preserving the life of that minor who was to be used.. May God help them to do the right thing.. This too shall pass!”

His tweet generated mixed reactions with some Twitter users calling him out for praying for someone who allegedly committed a crime.

Reacting, Suleman tweeted: “I just made a prayer for all those involved in the issue of the former deputy senate president and I see reactions.. since you have become the law court, take your hate somewhere else and don’t join those I have blocked..even a confirmed thief on the cross, Jesus prayed for him.”

Politics, World News

“They are not smart” Okowa slams APC over Tinubu’s decision to place his running mate Kabiru Masari as a placeholder.

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu are not smart.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Governor of Delta State, said making Kabiru Masari a placeholder showed that APC was not organized and not ready for election.

Okowa said: “You can find that the APC is finding it difficult to get who would be their vice presidential candidate, we are hearing something we have not heard before, somebody on placement to be replaced.

“They are actually not smart, that makes us believe they are not even ready for the election, there seems to be a lot of confusion in the APC, unlike us, right from day one, we‘ve made our decision and I believe we‘re on the right path.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had set a deadline for the submission of presidential running mates.

To beat the deadline, Tinubu submitted Masari’s name as his running mate, but it was alleged that Masari is just a placeholder.

However, the spokesman of the APC presidential candidate, Tunde Rahman had insisted that his principal submitted Masari’s name as his running mate.

He, however, disclosed that Tinubu is consulting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC leadership, and Masari over a final decision on the issue of his running mate.

Rahman said Masari may step down in the interest of the party.

Politics

What Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso told INEC about their education, NYSC, occupations

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The publication of the personal particulars of candidates for the 2023 elections has been followed by animated discussions among Nigerians on social media

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, published the particulars of candidates for the 2023 general elections.

The publication has been followed by animated discussions among Nigerians on social media on the academic credentials of some of the presidential candidates.

In the front burner of the discussions are questions around why the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, provided no information on his primary and secondary education.

Stating his occupation as “POLITICIAN,” the 70 years old APC National Leader claimed he obtained a B.Sc degree in Business and Administration from Chicago State University on June 22, 1979 before participating in the compulsory national youth service from November 12, 1982.

Although not seen by PREMIUM TIMES among Mr Tinubu’s published particulars at the INEC office, he swore to an affidavit that his certificates are missing.

“I went on self-exile from October 1994 to October 1998. When I returned I discovered that all my property, including all the documents relating to my qualifications and my certificates in respect of paragraph three above, were looted by unknown persons.

“My house was a target of series of searches by various security agents from the time the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn following the military takeover of government of 17th November 1993,” the two-term former governor of Lagos State claimed in the court affidavit.

Some Nigerians want to know more about Mr Tinubu’s past than what he revealed to INEC.

Similar concerns were raised over his background when he contested for governor in 1999 and 2003. The late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi filed a suit asking the courts to compel the police to prosecute Mr Tinubu for perjury and forgery after a petition accused him of those offences in his filings with INEC in 1999.

After the Supreme Court dismissed the suit on the ground that Mr Tinubu had immunity as governor against being prosecuted in court, the Lagos State House of Assembly investigated the matter and absolved Mr Tinubu of the charge of gross misconduct.

Mr Tinubu is considered by many political commentators as the candidate to beat in the 2023 presidential race, the reason for the intense public attention on his candidature.

The former Lagos governor’s spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, did not respond to calls to his phone lines at the time of filing this report when this reporter tried to seek further clarifications on the issue.

Atiku not exempted

PREMIUM TIMES scrutiny of the published documents by INEC picked up a similar thing about two or more candidates.

Despite not being a novice in the contest for president, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, also has a few questions raised about his academic credentials.

Mr Abubakar, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, will be hoisting the PDP presidential ticket for the second time in 2023. He had lost to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election.

Mr Abubakar also did not provide information on his primary education. The

1965 West Africa School Certificate (WASC) result presented by the 75 years old candidate identified the student as Siddiq Abubakar. He also holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.

Before joining politics, Mr Abubakar worked with the Nigeria Custom Service until he retired from the agency in 1989 at the rank of Deputy Director.

Mr Abubakar’s records show that he attended Jada Primary School, Adamawa State, but that information is missing in his published biodata by the INEC.

“Well, I think it is INEC that you should be making those enquiries to. Whatever it is that they published was not in my hands,” Paul Ibe, a spokesperson to Mr Abubakar told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.

“I don’t know what was submitted to INEC and what was not. So INEC is in the best position to know what it received and what it did not receive,” he said when asked about lack of information on the candidate’s early education.

His running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, also did not state his primary education in the published documents.

Kwankwaso, Obi

The two candidates are being tipped to give the APC and PDP candidates a run for their money. Unlike Messrs Tinubu and Atiku, Mr Kwankwaso provided full information on his academic credentials.

He bagged his first leaving certificate in 1968 and his secondary school certificate in 1975.

Mr Kwankwaso, 66, has Craft Training Certificate, ND, HND, Post Graduate Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, which he recently concluded.

He attached a copy of his provisional Ph.D certificate with his thesis on Design and Construction of Irrigation System in Northern Nigeria.

Before resigning in 1991 to join politics, Mr Kwankwaso had worked at Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA) for over 15 years.

Among the four top contenders in the race, he is the only candidate who has served as governor, lawmaker and minister.

Much celebrated in his huge social media fan base, Peter Obi is the candidate of Labour Party (LP) which he joined last month after quitting the PDP.

With a knack for quoting figures/statistics at every given opportunity in any public discourse, the two term governor of Anambra, identified himself as a politician and business executive.

Mr Obi attended primary, secondary and tertiary schools between 1973 and 1984.

Before joining politics, he had worked at Fidelity Bank in Lagos, but he did not stay the years in the INEC published documents.

Mr Obi, 61, is the youngest among the top four presidential candidates.

Politics

Running mate: North-West, North-East fight over slot, I’m still searching, says Tinubu

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There are indications that the northern governors of the All Progressives Congress from the North-West and North-East are divided over the choice of a suitable running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

This is as the former Lagos State governor on Sunday revealed that he was still searching for his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

The development is coming in the wake of controversy over Tinubu’s claims that he lost his academic certificates in his submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

A party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH that the delay in settling for an acceptable candidate among the governors spurred the party to temporarily opt for a placeholder.

The APC had submitted the name of a party chieftain in Katsina State, Ibrahim Masari, to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its surrogate running mate.

Masari is a serving board member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.

The source told one of our correspondents that weeks after Masari’s name was submitted to the INEC, the APC had yet to settle for a candidate.

He attributed the challenge to internal wrangling and agitation between governors from the North-East and North-West.

“I think it is down to two governors, Babagana Zulum of Borno and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, who have been seriously agitating for the vice-presidential slots. While the former wants his predecessor to be considered for the exalted, the latter has his eye on the seat,” he said.

The APC Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, however, kicked against the report, which he averred must be the figment of the imagination of people peddling the speculation.

“I can’t respond to speculation. All I can say is the media should allow the APC presidential candidate to make his decision. Once a decision is taken, we will announce it,” he fumed.

The Spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, also toed his line when he disclosed that his principal was still consulting with the party and the northern governors.

When asked about any probable northern candidates being touted as Tinubu’s running mate, Onanuga disclosed that he could not speak on it.

“I am telling you the truth. I don’t have any information on it at the moment,” he said.

North-East, North-West

A party member at the APC secretariat, however, told our correspondent that the friction between the North-East and North-West was unavoidable.

He also fingered some North-West governors who championed the move to concede the presidential ticket to the South as principal actors at the negotiation table.

“The North-West governors believe they won the ticket for Asiwaju. It was also evident at the primary where they influenced delegates from the North-West to direct most of their votes in the direction of Tinubu. With such massive support, they felt it is only fair for the running mate to come from their region.”

On why the North-East is also not willing to settle for other positions other than the vice-presidential slot, the APC stalwart disclosed that the region could also not be ruled out because of the massive votes they had churned out in the last two elections.

He noted, “We have seven states in the North-West. But the North-West controls the highest votes from the whole North. North-East, on the other hand, has six states with three being controlled by APC governors.

“They are Yobe, Gombe and Borno. In the North-East, the states risk being penetrated through Adamawa which is Atiku’s stronghold. Kwakwanso is also creating problems in North-West, especially Kano. He has started extending his tentacles into Kaduna too. It is like a virus.

“This time, we know Kano can’t fetch us the usual votes we have been getting in the past. It is kind of dicey despite the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Labour Party not being able to agree on an alliance yet.

“But at the end of the day, we will get it right. It is not a big deal. Politics is all about balancing the equation. It is all about coming to a roundtable, saying if this region takes the presidency, another takes the vice-president; what is in it for us? One thing is obvious though: Whatever the deadline is, the APC will meet up with it,” he said.

Lagos APC chair

Chairman of Lagos APC, Cornelius Ojelabi, urged Nigerians to cut Tinubu and his party some slack, saying the choice of running mate would be decided at the appropriate time.

 “They should allow the man to take his time before choosing a running mate. We don’t need to jump to any conclusion as of now. The issue of a running mate should be a personal matter to him. I think we should just give him some time,” he said.

The Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Shittu, conceded that his principal might have no say in who would be his running mate.

This is even as he claimed that the APC presidential candidate had told no one the formula that would determine his running mate.

“But common-sense dictates that they will look at the zones that will produce the highest votes for him. Secondly, the success of Asiwaju at the presidential primary cannot be alienated from the role that the northern governors played by conceding the ticket to the South.

 “He, therefore, has to reciprocate by allowing them to choose a candidate that will adequately represent them, particularly the cultural interest in that region,” he said.

Tinubu on VP

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Tinubu, who is the National Leader of the APC, said he was still studying how the House of Representatives Speaker, Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, had been working harmoniously, in his search for a running mate.

He said this at the presentation of a book titled ‘Mr Speaker: The Legislative Life, Service and Resilience of Femi Gbajabiamila and the unveiling of a Legislative Mentorship Initiative to mark Gbajabiamila’s 60th birthday.

At the event were the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), represented by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; former Governor of Ogun State and Chairman on the Occasion, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi; Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Atiku Badugu, among other prominent politicians and businessmen.

Tinubu said, “I could see his deputy (Wase) sitting down there too. You are a very good symbol of unity, dependability and honesty. Thank you. Thank you for both of you, you have not rocked the boat. I will need to learn from both of you (on) how you made the pair work because I’m still searching for my running mate.”

A political analyst, Shuaibu Doro, explained that the delay by Tinubu in picking a running mate was deliberate and strategic.

He noted, “It is deliberate, given the multiplicity of interests that have to be taken care of here and then; given that the country is a multicultural and heterogeneous and multi-religious society. So, these types of interests have to be taken care of.

“Announcing the name of a running mate at this moment could be costly for Tinubu, especially with the calls from different quarters that a Muslim-Muslim or Christain-Christian ticket is a no-no. It is also to avoid certain strategic errors.”

Also commenting, Tonye Isokariari, hinted that the APC candidate was making consultations to ensure he takes the right decision.

“I think he is trying to make more consultations; consultations are key and Nigeria is a very complex country. Lots of consultation is important so that the right decision is taken at the end of the day.”

Certificate controversy

Meanwhile, critics on Sunday criticized Tinubu over his disclosure that the academic certificates he received from his primary and secondary schools were missing.

Those who commented on Tinubu’s statement on Sunday included  Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Social Media to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and some supporters’ groups.

The former Lagos State governor with two degrees from two American universities disclosed in an affidavit submitted to INEC that his primary and secondary school certificates were stolen by “unknown soldiers” during the military junta in 1994.

The PUNCH had reported that in the said affidavit released on Friday, as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential elections, Tinubu did not tick the columns for his primary and secondary education.

As the critics flayed Tinubu, there were indications on Sunday that the northern governors of the APC from the North-West and North-East were divided over the choice for  Tinubu.

On her Facebook account, Onochie recounted how Buhari was also accused of being an illiterate who was cloned by an individual from Sudan, dismissing those spreading the report as “clowns.”

She wrote, “I am not sure why they cannot manufacture a different line of lies. In 2014, a Retired Army General of repute, Muhammadu Buhari, did not go to school. He’s less than a year from finishing his second term as the President of our great nation.

“In 2022, Senator Tinubu, a governor for two terms and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, did not go to school. In 2016, President Buhari was said to be cloned, and he was later replaced with some folk from Sudan. Fast forward to 2024, President Tinubu will be cloned or replaced by some folk from Togo. The same clowns. The same lies.

“If it’s not their preferred party,  if it’s not their religion; if it’s not their tribe, then, it’s not good. Fake news must be created to destroy the person. Nigerians know better now. They know the merchants of fake news; those who create multiple accounts on social media to disseminate fake news. They labour in vain.

“Instead of marketing their candidates, they prefer churning out fake and half-baked stories. It only shows their preferred candidates have nothing of value that can appeal to Nigerians. Campaigns will start soon. Dem go hear am.”

Another tweep named Shehu Sadiq, wrote, “The Tinubu certificate saga should quickly be a subject of litigation before they rig election for him and tell us he’s under immunity. Opposition parties and civil society groups should take this up ASAP. A semi-illiterate must not rule Nigeria again.”

Popular social commentator and columnist, Femi Aribisala, on his Twitter handle, alleged that Tinubu committed perjury because he did not attend Government College, Ibadan as he claimed in his affidavit.

“I wrote in 2014 that Tinubu’s affidavit that he attended Government College Ibadan (GCI) between 1965 and 1968 is false. I was in GCI from 1962-1968, and Tinubu was not there. Tinubu now tells INEC he did not go to primary or secondary school. This means he committed perjury,” he tweeted.

Another Twitter user, Okpala Izuchukwu Zuma, tweeted, “INEC Nigeria should be careful with this Tinubu certificate scandal. It has huge implications if justice is not done. ”

Similarly, a tweep named Captain,  wrote, “I pray that someone from the late Gani Fawehinmi chambers will have enough balls to tell Nigerians all that transpired during the certificate forgery case against Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the role Yemi Osinbajo played in the entire saga. Young Nigerians need to know their history.”

The National Publicity Secretary of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Agbo Major, said, “This whole certificate drama is still within the realm of speculation. These certificates, if they are there are to be submitted to the INEC as support documents accompanying his EC9.

“Declaring documents which physical copies are not accompanying them is perjury. This is the same as submitting documents that are not real. It is a punishable offence under the constitution as well as the Electoral Act to lie on oath.

“It is, therefore, the job of INEC to clear the air on this drama but the obvious advantage is that Nigerians are now showing more interest and interrogating the process.”

The Peter Obi Support Network,  in a reaction by its Deputy Director of Communications, Adegbite Adekunle, made available to The PUNCH by Obi’s Media Consultant, Daniel Elombah, said, “Nigerians deserve a President whose records are not subject to credible controversies. It is obvious from the records and testimonies in the public domain, that the APC presidential candidate’s background is shrouded in mystery, and Nigerians cannot afford to elect someone whom they do not know and cannot attest for.

“We can say without equivocation that the APC, as it stands, does not have a qualified presidential candidate, given the particulars published by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The constitution is clear on the academic qualifications expected of anyone presenting himself to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, apparently, does not possess these qualifications.”

Reacting, the  National Coordinator of South West Agenda for 2023, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, said, “I will not call it a certificate saga. Tinubu has been a senator and a two-term governor of Lagos State. If you have no primary and secondary certificates, you can’t hold these positions. So there is no certificate scandal, just the imagination of those who wish to abuse themselves.”

A group, Tinubu Network Organisation, in a thread on its Twitter account, @TNOnigeria, noted that the late activist and human rights lawyer, Gani Fawenhinmi, had dragged the APC standard-bearer to court over the issue in 1999.

According to the TNO, Fawenhinmi had dragged the case up to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Tinubu could not be prosecuted by the police for alleged certificate forgery; that only the Lagos State House of Assembly could investigate him.

Politics

Osun 2022: Oyetola’s victory is certain, says aide

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Special Adviser on Civic Engagement to Osun State Governor, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has predicted a landslide victory for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in July 16 governorship poll.

Oyintiloye disclosed this on Sunday while addressing members of Nigerian Incorporated Electronic Practitioners, Osun State Chapter during an engagement meeting organised by the Civic Engagement Office held in Osogbo on Sunday.

Representing Oyetola at the meeting, Oyintiloye said the campaign of calumny by the opposition parties against the present administration would not stop the incumbent governor’s reelection.

According to him, the landslide victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress in the Ekiti governorship election would be replicated for APC during Osun poll.

He said, “For us defeat is not an option in the coming election. The victory that will be recorded in the election through the popular votes of the electorate for Oyetola and APC. It will surpass that of Ekiti state.

“We are prepared for the election and it will not be out of place to extend hands of fellowship to everyone to join us in moving the state forward. I want to emphasise that failure is not an option. Victory is certain by the grace of God.”

He, however, urged the electorate to get their Permanent Voter Cards and support Oyetola’s reelection.

A statement by Oyintiloye noted that the chairman of the association, Mr Olusegun Atoyebi, commended Oyetola on various developmental projects he initiated across the state.

Politics, World News

Electoral Act: Supreme Court Strikes Out Buhari’s Suit Challenging Section 84(12).

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The Supreme Court on Friday struck out President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation’s suit challenging Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act.

The case was expunged on the grounds that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and is an abuse of court process.

Earlier, a notice for the judgment delivery was served on President Buhari and the National Assembly on Thursday, inviting them to appear before the court today for the judgment.

The President and his Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had filed a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking an interpretation of the controversial clause in the Electoral Amendment Act 2022.

In the suit filed on April 29, Buhari and Malami, who are the plaintiffs, listed the National Assembly as the sole defendant.

There have been several debates regarding Section 84(12) of the amended Electoral Act 2022 which was assented to in February.

Upon assenting to the act, President Buhari had asked the National Assembly to delete the contended clause, however, the parliament declined the president’s request.

Section 84 (12) of the legislation holds that, “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

In their suit marked SC/CV/504/2022 and filed on April 29, 2022, President Buhari and Malami sought an order of the apex court to strike out the section of the Electoral Act, which they argue was inconsistent with the nation’s constitution.

According to the court document, the plaintiffs contend that the Section 84(12) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2022 is inconsistent with the provisions of sections 42, 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), as well Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and People and Peoples Rights.

The plaintiffs further contended that the constitution already makes provisions for qualification and disqualification for the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor, Senate and House of Representatives, House of Assembly, Ministers, Commissioners and Special Advisers.

President Muhammadu Buhari

They urged the Supreme Court to make: “A declaration that the joint and or combined reading of the section 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), the provision of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 which also ignores Section 84(3) of the same Act, is an additional qualifying and/or disqualifying factors for the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Gubernatorial and Presidential elections as enshrined in the said constitution, hence unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void”.

However, in its decision on Friday, the Supreme Court held that President Buhari having assented to the bill on February 25 2022, can not turn around to challenge same act .

In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim the court said allowing the suit to have it’s way will amount to approbating and reprobating at the same time and no court of law shall allow that.

The Apex Court unanimously agreed that President Buhari lacked the jurisdiction to bring the suit before it because of the nature of the reliefs sought.

Politics

Osun: Don’t come back crying, Adamu tells APC campaign council

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The 86-member Campaign Council was inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulahi Adamu, has told the campaign council for the July 15 governorship election in Osun State that he has zero tolerance for failure.

Mr Adamu stated this while inaugurating the 86-member council at the party secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

The council, co-chaired by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, has been mandated to secure the re-election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Mr Oyetola faces a tough challenge from Demola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other candidates.

Mr Adamu, in his speech, said the council should not come back home crying, adding that crying should be left for the opponents.

He asked the council to do everything legally possible to ensure victory for the party.

“Nobody should come back to us crying, failure is not our own by the grace of God. Whatever it takes within the laws of the land, I said go for it, win the election.

“Let them go complain. Let them go wherever. Let’s win the election. We have no apologies whatsoever for this posture because these two elections are for the best to the national election coming up in 2003.

“It will go in our credentials that we have the winning track record. This National Working Committee that you elected we have a commitment. So, we must be prepared to face him eyeball to eyeball,” he said.

Briefing journalists after the inauguration, Mr Ganduje said the council will start with reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party.

“To win the election is absolutely necessary but following due process, following all democratic ideals.

“But we assure you, we must start with reconciliation to ensure that the party is intact and the machinery is on the right footing. We know all that led to the election being inconclusive. But this time around, it will be conclusive,” Mr Ganduje said

Politics

Aggrieved National Assembly members plan showdown with govs over lost tickets

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National Assembly members, who failed to win their parties’ tickets for the 2023 elections, are set for a showdown with state governors and their aides.

Findings by our correspondents showed that in states such as Benue, Kebbi,  Zamfara, Delta, Ekiti and Ogun, governors or their loyalists defeated incumbent Senators and the House of Representatives members to clinch their parties’ tickets during last month’s primaries.

Many of the National Assembly members have defected to other parties, where they would contest against the governors or their aides, who won the parties’ primaries.

Those who are not contesting are believed to be poised to work against the election of those who denied them of tickets.

The All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had on Wednesday met APC senators as part of moves to halt the planned defection of members of the red chamber.

No fewer than 13 Senators have already dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party and other parties.

In Zamfara State, an APC member of the House Representatives, Kabiru Ahmed, who is representing Gusau/Tsafe Constituency, lost the ticket to  Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, a former Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.

According to sources,  Rikiji is close to the state Governor, Bello Mattawale.  Ahmed defected to the PDP, where he was given the ticket to re-contest the seat.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Ahmed said because he was cheated by the leadership of the APC,  as such, he was left with no option but to defect to PDP in order to actualise his ambition.

“I was cheated by the APC leadership, as such, I decided to change the party and joined the PDP and I thank God that I got the ticket to contest for the same position.”

Another APC House of Representatives,  Ahmed  Fulani, lost the ticket following the reconciliation between Mattawale and a former Governor of the state, Abdul Aziz Yari. He was replaced by  Zubairu Abdulmakik. Fulani defected to the PDP where he would contest the 2023 poll.

In the Kaura-Namoda/Birnin Magaji constituency, the incumbent member,  Sani Umar,  could not get the ticket to re-contest as he was replaced with Aminu Sani Jaji.

In an interview with The PUNCH, the APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris,  said House of Representatives members who could not get the tickets defected to the PDP even before the primaries.

He stated, “Those  members of the House of Representatives who did not get their tickets under the APC had already left the party before the primaries.”

“They refused to participate in the primary and returned to their former party, the PDP where they got the same tickets.”

Okowa’s aides triumph

 Three PDP House of Representative members, Mr Nicholas Ossai, Mr Ben Igbakpa and Efe Afe  failed to secure tickets to contest the 2023 elections.

Ossai, a third-term member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Constituency, was defeated by an aide of the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa,   Mr  Nnamdi Ezechi.

Also, Ms Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, defeated Igbakpa to pick the PDP ticket.

Afe of the Uvwie/Okpe constituency lost to immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources, Evelyn Obiri.

Speaking to one of our correspondents, Ezechi promised to work hard to win the general election,

Efforts to reach Nicholas Ossai and Ben Igbakpa failed as calls put across to them were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Ekiti lawmakers

In Ekiti State, one senator and four House of Representatives members lost their bid to return to their positions following last month’s primaries.

It was gathered that some of those who won the National Assembly primaries were close to the governor.

Some of the National Assembly members who lost have, have resolved to seek legal redress to challenge the elections.

The APC Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Olubunmi Adetumbi,  was defeated by Cyril Fasuyi, the Director General of the party’s governorship candidate, Abayomi Oyebanji, who won last Saturday’s poll in the state.

Also, Peter Owolabi ((APC Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1) was defeated in his return ticket bid by Mr Akin Rotimi, a former Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to the state Governor Kayode Fayemi.

However, nothing has been said about the ticket for Ekiti Central Federal, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola’s constituency, which was contested by her, Biodun Omoleye, former Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Mr Dele Phillips.

However, state Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe,  in an interview with The PUNCH, said Fayemi did not grab the party’s National Assembly tickets. He said “Those who won and those who lost are governor’s men and governor’s women.

“So, I don’t know how on earth anybody will think the governor will be interested in collecting tickets from somebody who is with him and give it to somebody who is with him. People will just come with conjectures.

“I think people should just allow our internal democracy to work out. At every stage of our election or process, people will always go ahead to make permutations, but they should just allow us to do things our way and stop all these concerns especially if they are not APC members.

“I don’t think any APC member will say that Senator Adetumbi is not Fayemi’s man or that Cyril Fasuyi is Fayemi’s man more than him. I don’t think anybody will say  Wumi Ogunlola is not Fayemi’s woman or that anybody is Fayemi’s man or woman than anybody,” he said.

Prominent APC members in Kano State, including a former governor and incumbent Senator, Ibrahim Shekarau;  a former member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumini Jibrin and an ex-presidential aide, Kawu Sulaiman defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party where they will contest National Assembly elections.

Following the APC leaders’ failure to resolve the crisis in the Kebbi State chapter, federal lawmakers, including Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and a member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Jega, have joined the PDP. Aliero will contest the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat with the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

In Benue State, three PDP House of Representatives members lost the party’s tickets.

They are Francis Ottah Agbo representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu;  Mark Gbilah of Gwer West/Gwer East and Kpam Sokpo of the  Buruku constituency.

An APC House of Representatives,  Herba Hembe,  dumped the party for the Labour Party, where he contested and won the governorship ticket.

He, however, defected to the Labour party where he contested and won the gubernatorial ticket.

But Senator Orker Jev representing Benue North-West failed to seek re-election because Governor Samuel Ortom got the ticket.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “He (Jev) only exercised his right not to contest because as a party member you have the right to contest and not to contest.”

Jev’s media aide, Samson Yanor, in an interview with The PUNCH, said   a zoning arrangement was between two areas of the state; Jemgba and Minda

According to him,  the senatorial slot which has been in Jemgba for the past 16 years ought to move back to Minda, hence the senator’s decision.

The Senator representing Kwara Central zone,  Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, lost the party’s ticket to the Turaki of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Mustapha.

Oloriegbe said that he accepted his defeat by Mustapha which he attributed to the wish of Allah.

In Plateau State,  all the three incumbent senators will not return to the National Assembly.

While the Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang, who was elected on the platform of the PDP failed to secure the party’s ticket as he lost to a  House of Representatives member, Simon Mwadkwon; the Senator representing Plateau South, Prof.Nora Daduut, who was elected on the platform of the APC  did not contest the party’s primary.

The state Governor, Simon Lalong, got the APC’s ticket.

Senator Hezekiah Dimka, representing Plateau Central on the platform of the APC,   contested the governorship ticket of the state but lost out.

Out of the eight available House of Representatives seats in the state, only the lawmaker representing Shendam/Mikang/Qua-anpan on the platform of the APC,  Komsol  Longgap,  failed to clinch the party’s ticket.

A member of the  House of Representatives representing Illela/Gwadabawa Constituency in Sokoto State,  Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, in an interview with The PUNCH, said he had no regret not going back to the National Assembly.

Salame, who is a member of the APC and governorship aspirant, stated, “I joined the race for the governorship primary with belief that every member would be given a level playing field.

“When I and some other aspirants saw how the things were being handled, we complained to the national headquarters of our party but nothing was done.

“On the day of the primary, we held a press conference calling for direct primaries but the leaders of the party never cared.”

Also Senator Ibrahim Gobir, Senator representing Sokoto East,  will not return to the Senate.

Gobir lost to Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, the anointed candidate of the leader of the party in the state, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Abiodun’s aides

Also, five out of nine House of Representatives members in Ogun State and all the three senators are not re-contesting their seats. The Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun,  did not contest the APC senatorial primary.

Those who lost their return tickets are  Lanre Edun (Abeokuta South), Jimoh Aremu (Egbado-North/Imeko-Afon), Kolawole Lawal (Egbdo South/Ipokia ) and Kolapo Osunsanya ((Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu-North-East).  All of them are APC  members. A House of Representatives member,   Adekoya Adesegun (PDP Ijebu North/Ijebu-East/Ogunwaterside) also lost the ticket.

While Senator Tolu Odebiyi,  Ogun West, was defeated by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, currently representing  Lagos West.  Lekan Mustapha,  Ogun East, was said to have stepped down for a former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The Chief of Staff to the state governor, Shuaib Salis, secured the Ogun Central ticket.

It was learnt most of those who won the party’s tickets were loyalists of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, while those who lost out were in the camp of his predecessor, Amosun.

Edun had after the primary threatened to challenge the result, describing the exercise which led to the emergence of the current Commissioner for Local Government and  Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape,  as the party’s candidate as a charade.

Commenting on the political struggle between the governors and the National Assembly members, a political analyst and Media Specialist, at Caleb University,  Mr Olawale Adekoya, berated governors, who would contest senatorial seats.

He said, ‘’The trend is dangerous because we have desecrated and abused the parliament. The parliament is the heartbeat of modern democracy. A national assembly is meant for the best brain, that is where the power of scholarship, charisma, intellectualism, and inherent quality must be found. What we have today is that the national assembly has been turned into a retirement ground where old and sick Nigerians are being navigated to spend the rest of their political years. Certain laws should be put in place to checkmate this dangerous trend.

On his part, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Prof. Adepoju Tejumaiye, stated, ‘The whole issue revolves around the fact that we don’t have laws. Many of our politicians do not have morals and we don’t do things the right way in this country. If our politicians continue to behave recklessly this way, our democracy will not grow because they like doing things to favour themselves and enslave all of us. We have not seen the end of it’’

Politics, World News

Ekweremadu, wife arrested for bringing child to UK for organ harvesting

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Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president, and his wife, Beatrice, have been arrested and charged to court for bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.

Confirming the arrests in a statement, the metropolitan police said the pair were charged to court on Thursday following an investigation by the police’ specialist crime team.

The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.

“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” the statement reads.

“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

“They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.”

“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.

“As criminal proceedings are now under way we will not be providing further details.”

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