Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that 113 churches in Ukraine have been hit by Russian shelling since the beginning of the invasion. The Skete of All Saints monastery in Lavra, located in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, has burned down, becoming the latest religious structure desecrated by the Russian army, Zelensky said in an address. Three monks were killed by shelling in Lavra on Wednesday.
“During the full-scale war, 113 churches have already been destroyed or damaged by Russian shelling. Among them are the ancient ones – those that withstood World War II, but did not withstand the Russian occupation,” said Zelensky. “There are also those that were built after 1991,” he added, specifically addressing the incident in Lavra: “Reconstruction of the Skete of All Saints of the Svyatohirsk Lavra began in 2001. June 10 would be another anniversary of the beginning of construction.”
Zelensky said that “Worship services are forced to be held in the basement” in Ukraine due to the possibility of Russian shelling. Zelensky implored the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which he noted “is still considered in Moscow to be connected with the Russian Orthodox Church,” to draw “More decisive conclusions and a clear condemnation of each of those who condone aggression” in response to the Russian attacks on churches. Zelensky added that Ukrainian diplomats “will do everything” to keep the destruction of churches and other culturally important infrastructure in Ukraine in the international public eye.
“The Russian army can stop burning churches. The Russian army can stop destroying cities. The Russian army can stop killing children. If the same person in Moscow just gives such an order. And the fact that there is still no such order is an obvious humiliation for the whole world,” said Zelensky, in an apparent rebuke to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comment Saturday that world powers should not “humiliate” Russia.
“We must not humiliate Russia so that the day when the fighting stops we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means,” Macron said in an interview, designating his country as a “mediating power” in the conflict. Zelensky concluded his address by describing the widespread destruction caused by Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine. “Russia is deliberately and systematically destroying Ukraine’s cultural and historical heritage, as well as social infrastructure, housing, and everything necessary for normal life,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Christians and their leaders worldwide, to celebrate with Founder and General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi at 81, on June 6.
In a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina on Sunday in Abuja, Buhari felicitated the General Superintendent on the auspicious occasion.
He lauded Kumuyi for his dedication to soul winning, preaching of the gospel and counselling, which he believed had transformed many lives, and left an indelible mark on the growth of the nation.
The president noted the contributions of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, which started as a Bible study group by Pastor Kumuyi, who was then a lecturer, to the spiritual and moral development of the country, with testimonies in education, health, roads and water supply.He also commended the Ministry for the provision of scholarships to the less privileged.
The president shared the joy of another age with the octogenarian, his wife, Esther, other family members and friends, while acknowledging the inspiring influence of the many books of the Christian leader, especially the devotionals.
He prayed that the almighty God would continue to strengthen Kumuyi and his family in good health and wisdom.
The former president of Nigeria and presidential candidate under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has taken to his Twitter page to condemn the unfortunate incident in Owo, Ondo state.
Atiku expressed his grievance with the families and friends of the attacked victims, who were killed and wounded by Fulani Herdsmen in the church. He called on security agencies and the government to act , by bringing the criminals to justice.
Below are this tweets:
I condemn the attack on the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo council area of Ondo State capital. My prayers are with the people of Owo, especially families of the deceased.
I do hope that the state government and relevant security agencies will leave no stone unturned in apprehending the criminals and bringing them to justice. I condole with the body of Catholic faithful in Nigeria.
Over 40 people have been reportedly killed in an attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, in Owo town, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. It was learnt that the incident happened in the church, which is less than 200 meters away from the Palace of Olowo of Owo. Workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, confirmed that many people were brought in dead on Sunday.
A viral online video showed some worshippers being killed and lying on the floor of the church in the pool of their own blood.
One of the health workers on duty at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where the casualties were taken to said over 50 people had been brought to the hospital. He said, “They are still bringing people to the hospital, some have been confirmed dead while some are still breathing. But for now, I can’t specify the number of those dead.”
A source in the palace told Punch correspondent that there is tension and panic in the area. He said, “The church that was attacked was at the back of the palace and we are still wondering how gunmen could carry out such an attack at the centre of the town.
This is unbelievable. Kabiyesi will soon issue a statement on the incident.” Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the command was yet to ascertain the cause of the incident. “The CP (Commissioner of Police) is on his way to the scene to ascertain the cause of the incident. We have been hearing so many things about it but I will get back to you.”
Family and friends of victims at Federal Medical Centre.
Some bandits in the early hours of Saturday invaded Iri Station, Idon Ward of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted no fewer than 14 people. A Supervisory Councillor of Admin, Finance and Health of the Council, Bala Jonathan, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits struck in the wee hours on Saturday. Jonathan gave the identity of those abducted by the hoodlums to include Abdullahi, Yakubu Isah, Samson Julius, Angelina Julius, Pasema Daniel, Junior, Bobo Julius, Saratu Mohammed, Asenath Sunday, Confidence Jerry, Barnaki Sunday, Moses Kenneth, Danladi Goma and Ummi Jibrin. “These are the names of abducted persons in Iri Station which we have discovered for now. The sad event happened in the early hours of today, June 4, 2022,” he said.
He added that some of the natives who were kidnapped earlier “are still being held by the criminal gangs because their loved ones and communities have not been able to raise the ransom demanded by their abductors.” It was gathered that the community (Idon) is fast becoming haven for the hoodlums who at will abduct natives with reckless abandon, leaving the members of the communities with no option but to part with ransoms in order to save their beloved ones.
The Kaduna State Police Command had yet to confirm the incident as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted on the telephone, the state Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, promised to get in touch with the officer in charge of the area and get back to Punch correspondent but he hadn’t at press time. “Let me call the Sector Commander there and get back to you,” Jalige said to Punch correspondent.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday in Accra, urged leaders of the Economic Community of West African States to consider the welfare of the vulnerable citizens of Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso who he described as the real victims of the unconstitutional power change. This is as he noted that although the military leadership in Burkina Faso has released President Kabore in line with the request by ECOWAS leaders, further measures must be taken to ensure his safety and full freedom. According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke at the 6th Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State on the political situations in the three countries. The statement is titled ‘President Buhari to ECOWAS leaders: Any decision on Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea must consider the people.’
He expressed concern that since the last Summit of ECOWAS leaders on March 25, not much has been achieved in terms of having an acceptable timetable for the conduct of elections to restore democratic rule in the affected countries. President Buhari warned that the security situation in both Mali and Burkina Faso has reached alarming levels with incessant attacks by extremist groups on the civilian populace and military facilities, aggravating the humanitarian condition in the two countries.
‘‘The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Mali and Burkina Faso should be a source of serious concern to us as leaders in the region. As you may be aware, the world is still recovering from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which wrecked the global economy.
‘‘While our economies begin to recover, the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine has led to a surge in prices of many commodities including foodstuffs. ‘‘We are, therefore, left with no option but to devise means of sustaining our economies by becoming more creative and evolving in finding other channels of demand and supply, in order to ensure that we cushion the effect of the war and prevent our economies from collapsing, and our people remain productive. ‘‘We must, therefore, ensure that, in whatever decision we take, we must remember the mass of the populations in the affected countries, who are victims of the unconstitutional change of government and the adverse consequences of isolation brought about,’’ he said. Consequently, he called on the Authority to revisit the report presented by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the ECOWAS Mediator on Mali, on a transition timetable for the West African country. He also noted that Jonathan had recommended 16 months transitional timeframe ‘‘as well as his further personal appeal and observation to us to give the military leadership in Mali up to 18 months for the conduct of election, starting from March 2022.’’
The meeting, which started at about 7 p.m. in Aguda House, the official residence of the vice president, came a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the APC governors requesting their support to pick his successor.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, met with the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, and five governors of the ruling party.
The meeting, according to sources, started at about 7 p.m.
However, the identity of the governors is currently unknown.
The meeting took place in Aguda House, the official residence of the vice president.
Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to the Vice President, did not pick up calls placed to his number.
Mr Osinbajo is in the presidential race under the APC alongside 22 others with the special convention to elect a candidate fixed for June 6-8.
Over the week, the presidential race of the ruling party became intriguing after the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari, APC governors and the national chairman of the party.
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023,” Mr Buhari had told the governors.
He departed for Spain on a state visit after the meeting.
On their part, the APC governors have held several meetings to deliberate on an ideal candidate but failed to reach an agreement so far.
Tinubu’s outburst
Earlier on Thursday, Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor and presidential aspirant of the APC, during a meeting with Ogun State delegates, narrated how Mr Osinbajo emerged as the vice president.
He said Mr Osinbajo, an indigene of the state, would not have emerged as the vice-presidential candidate in 2015 without his support.
“This is me telling you between my life and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his Vice President. He said because the first time he contested, he picked Okadigbo, a flamboyant Catholic, but Nigerians didn’t vote for him.
“The second time, he picked another Igbo, Ume-Ezeoke, Nigerians didn’t vote for him. He knows that even if he goes to bring the Pope to run as his vice, Nigerians won’t vote for him. So he said, ‘you, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice.
“He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that was why he wanted me as his vice, but I told him to let us build the party first.
“I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I can nominate so that the party will not break. That was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).”
Since last week when the news broke on the defection of former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Labour Party, LP, there has been growing support for the former bank chairman, with a lot of support across social media platforms.
First was that in Anambra State where Obi pulled out of the PDP, after a glaring plan to frustrate his effort to clinch the party’s ticket for the presidential election, many members of the party also dumped the party, including its bigwig politicians, its aspirants and very many supporters, all running to the Labour Party, for the simple reason that Obi has moved on.
Upon the news of Obi’s resignation, what one can describe as mass resignation hit the party, with Mr Valentine Ozigbo, PDP’s governorship candidate in the November 2021 governorship election in Anambra, who is running for Senate, withdrawing from the race, but failing to announce his resignation from the party. Apart from Ozigbo’s withdrawal, Hon Valentine Ayika, Hon Tony Nwoye and Hon George Ozodinobi, all former members of the National Assembly are among those who also withdrew from their aspiration and resigned from the party.
As at then, a source within Anambra PDP, however, had told DAILY POST that more prominent politicians in the State will still dump PDP in the coming days. The source said it was in anger that Peter Obi left the party, as Uba and others were working to humiliate him in the State, even as he battled his fellow presidential aspirants.
“More people will leave before the end of this week. It is true that PDP in Nigeria has problems, but the problem of Anambra PDP is far more than that of the national. It is still the reason they have not held a primary election for any position, till today. The plot is for all Obi’s line up to move en mass, and join the Labour Party, from where they will give PDP a fight,” the source said.
Exactly as predicted, more people are still leaving the PDP for the Labour Party, but the worry is now not only that of the PDP, but has spread to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and all who have interest in the coming election.
Currently, one can say that if online support can win presidential elections in Nigeria, Mr Peter Obi is already comfortably coasting to victory in the 2023 presidential election.
For example, on all social media platforms in the country, there have been all manner of support for Obi by Nigerians who believe he is the best man for the job. There have been comedy skits, political posts by ordinary Nigerians who have shown support for the former governor. Among them are social media posts, which have stated that even if Peter Obi joins ‘end of the year party’, ‘end of discussion party’, ‘party after party’, they would still vote for him.
Such cult followership is enough to send jitters down the spine of any other political party, especially as during the first 48 hours of his defection to LP, the server of the party’s website was reported to have broken down as a result of huge traffic, as people registered to become members of the political party.
There have, however, been varying views on the followership Obi is gaining on the internet, as some people have stated that following on social media may not translate to physical votes during the election. But a rights activist, Ejike Mba, who spoke to DAILY POST is of the view that it is from forming opinions on social media that people build the determination about where to vote.
He also stated that such open declaration for Obi on social media may also influence people who do not have a stand yet, while also stating that there is absolutely no truth in the insinuation that social media votes do not transform to physical votes for candidates.
He said, “If you ask me, the best thing that has happened this year is the acceptance of Mr Peter Obi to run for president, and as if that is not enough, he quietly exited the PDP and moved to a less known party when it became obvious that PDP was bent on frustrating him. I’m a supporter of Peter Obi, and there is no way people can tell me that the kind of cult following he is enjoying today can not translate to positive support during the election.
“Let me tell you, the people that are not happy are people that are in the ruling political party, APC. If you are someone who uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even WhatsApp, you will see the kind of comment people are making about the personality of Obi. In 2015, APC and it’s candidate, Muhammadu Buhari had the same kind of acceptance in the social media, but the only difference was that while the APC and their propaganda arm induced people to make post that were positive about Buhari, the case of Peter Obi is that after visiting a lot of places on the platform of the PDP and also presenting his case and arguing in television shows, people today see him as the man who cuts the shape of the kind of president that can bring hope to this country.
“Have you not seen Peter Obi being mobbed at airports and other public places? Don’t you see the kind of support people are showing to him? The good thing is that unlike the APC, which stage-managed the kind of Buhari they wanted us to believe in, especially through social media influencers who they paid, the case of Obi is that genuinely, people are making positive videos, comments and posts about him because they are convinced about what they want.”
Speaking on the possibility of Obi’s support base which is the youth staying with him through the election, a journalist, Mrs Ify Nzebo said: “Most of the fight is for Obi to fight. Just like people have been saying ‘there is no polling unit in social media’, I still believe that with all the campaigns, people are more politically aware today than they were in 2015 and in 2019. A lot of people have realized the power of the PVC, and they are going all out for it.
“I’m sure the youths will come out enmasse to vote for Obi as they have also been supporting him, but what I’m definitely not sure of is that any of those youths will want to stay behind and protect their votes as they usually say. As for coming out to vote, people will vote Obi enmasse, but if in the case opposition political party decides to use violent thugs to rig the election, most of the youths will rather want to be safe. Thankfully, from what we have heard, the new Electoral Act may not permit such use of violence to rig elections this time.”
On the willingness of the north to relinquish power, Mba said: “Many people have been talking about the willingness of the northern oligarchs to cede power to the south, and they too have shown it that they are not willing. That is why after eight years of two tenure, the north is still not willing to have power zoned to the south. PDP has also confirmed it by electing Atiku Abubakar as their candidate, making Peter Obi’s exit from the party a very good move.
“But one thing I know is that, this could be the very opportunity for the real Nigerian people to choose their own president, irrespective of the options placed before them by a cabal. I’m already sure that the APC will also elect a northerner as candidate, but it is up to the voting public to choose who to vote for. Already, Peter Obi is sitting pretty because this will be the first time that someone outside the two big parties is posing a threat to the big parties, and also being positively believed to have the chance to win.”
ADELANI ADEPEGBA writes that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary turned out to be a dollar bazaar as aspirants on the eve of the convention competed to woo delegates
The dollar rain at the Peoples Democratic Party presidential convention in Abuja on May 28 was not unexpected. The stakes were high, tension was fever-pitch. The 14 candidates were ready to deal. For the 764 delegates, the financial windfall was their reward from the transactional primary disguised as participatory democracy, and they were not disappointed. While addressing delegates, most of them paid no attention to the party’s manifesto and how they would rescue the country.
Among the presidential aspirants were a former vice president, state governors, ex-governors, former senate presidents, businessmen, and a publisher.
Atiku Abubakar, the perennial presidential contestant, did not leave anyone in doubt about his resolve to take the prize, regardless of the price. His camp has yet to deny reports that he doled out about $20,000 to each delegate to best his closest rival. He subsequently emerged the PDP candidate with 371 votes.
Atiku was believed to boast a huge war chest made possible in part by his stint in government. Even though, he has been unable to deodorise or stamp off the foul smell of corruption allegations swirling around him.
Atiku’s closest challenger, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, came second with 237 votes. Like other contestants, the governor had toured various states to seek support from the delegates. With the swagger of an emperor who could do no wrong, Wike had written off other aspirants, even as he announced to anyone who cared to listen that he was the only person that could win the presidential poll for the opposition party. Wike’s camp was said to have packaged $10,000 for each delegate in a desperate bid to clinch the coveted party ticket. On failing to achieve his dream, the governor, who stormed the MKO Abiola stadium with no fewer than 25 buses decorated with his campaign banners, quietly left the venue.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had, a few weeks ago, declared the Rivers State Accountant-General, Fubara Siminayi, and 58 others wanted for N435bn fraud, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office. For those who may not know, Siminayi, who is Wike’s protégé, just clinched the PDP governorship ticket and may emerge the next Rivers governor in 2023.
A former Director-General, Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside, alleged that Wike spent N30bn state funds on delegates during the PDP primary.
“Wike donated about N10bn of public funds in unsolicited charity to states, and about N20bn pursuing his ill-fated presidential bid,’’ the former federal lawmaker claimed.
However, the governor’s spokesperson, Kelvin Ebiri, dismissed the allegations as spurious.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, also denied that his principal bribed delegates, attributing his victory to “hard work and the unity speech.”
He stated, “I can tell you outright that it is false in its entirety, it is not true. Maybe you want to know why Atiku won; I would tell you. Atiku won because of his message, the agenda he has for Nigeria, about security, about unity and education, the economy and devolution of powers and all of that are encapsulated in what is known as the unity speech.
Saraki and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom were also not left out of the zero sum game as they also allegedly wooed the delegates with their wallets. The only female in the race, Oliver Diana, and another contestant, Sam Ohuabunwa, scored one vote each; a former President of the Senate, Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes while Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, scored 20 votes. The other contestants – ex-governor Ayodele Fayose and Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu – got zero votes.
Curiously, men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission appeared at the scene in their red jackets looking for evidence of vote-buying and checking Ghana-must-go backs laden with ballot papers. Observers said the EFCC was merely playing to the gallery as they knew what to do if they were serious about tracing the thousands of greenbacks that exchanged hands before the voting exercise. Their appearance at the PDP convention was described as sheer buffoonery.
A spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the officials of the commission stormed the presidential primary elections to monitor delegates’ inducement and financial malpractices.”
However, delegates, who spoke on strict condition of anonymity, said the sharing of money took place at hotels and well-guarded locations.
“Some of the aspirants are serving governors. We were flown in from different states. Do you think it is at the venue that we will be given money? The EFCC are just jokers.
“They are even wearing uniforms. Why didn’t they wear mufti? I am sure they will not go to the APC primaries. The serious aspirants have reached out to us and have done the needful,” said a delegate from Lagos.
He stated, “States like Lagos, Osun, Kaduna and others that have no governor are the ones that are collecting money from all the aspirants. They can make as much as $30,000 from different aspirants because they are swing states.’’
Appalled by the monetisation of the process, one of the aspirants, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, a former Managing Director of defunct FSB International Bank, withdrew from the race on Saturday morning.
A past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, observed that the delegates could not resist the $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000 offered to them by the ‘’four leading contestants,’’ during the presidential special convention. According to him, the effect of money was overwhelming in the choice made by delegates.
He added, “In the current dispensation, a few members of a party are involved in the determination of the fate of the aspirants. They now deal in and distribute major international currencies, especially the dollar.
A policy analyst, Charles Onunaiju, called for a rethink of the democratic process so that it could be value-driven and owned by the citizens.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday evening, visited Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja.
Wike’s visit happened amidst search by Atiku and the opposition party for an acceptable southern running mate.
The PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Walid Jibrin, had on Monday said, “The BoT will assist the party and surely the Waziri Adamawa (Atiku) himself to come out with a very acceptable Vice President from southern Nigeria.”
Atiku, who was also PDP presidential candidate in 2019, ran with former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi who left the PDP to become the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party in 2023.
The PUNCH learnt that Wike reciprocated Atiku’s visit which the former Vice-President paid on Monday.
Unlike Monday’s meeting where a dissatisfied Wike met the camera shutters with an arching frown on his face, Wednesday’s meeting ended on a cordial note as the governor and the ex-VP beamed with smiles in a photo pose after the closed-door session whose details were yet unknown as of press time.
Atiku shared photos of the meeting on his verified social media pages. He said, “It was a pleasure to receive His Excellency Nyesom Wike in the company of notable leaders and officials of our great party, the PDP, at my residence today. I am proud of the promises that this spirit of camaraderie holds for our party as a united front that guarantees victory in the next election to rescue the country.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Atiku solicited the support of his rivals in the opposition party to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in next year’s election.
Atiku, after he received the party’s Certificate of Return at the PDP National Secretariat at the Wadata Plaza in Abuja, said his main opponent is the APC and not his co-aspirants in Sunday’s presidential primary.
He urged his contenders to join forces with him to dislodge the APC government led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in 2023.
During the PDP presidential primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Saturday, Atiku polled 371 votes to defeat Wike, who got 237 votes; a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, 70 votes; the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, 38 votes; the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, 20 votes; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, 14 votes and an ex-President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, one vote.
The delegates were said to be surprised when the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was one of the front runners for the presidential ticket, stepped down and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku as a result of what sources said was due to the intervention of the northern elders, who were pushing for a northern consensus aspirant.
Wike had lambasted Tambuwal for stepping down for Atiku at the last-minute and had alleged that some PDP governors sabotaged him.
President Muhammadu Buhari visited Spain on Wednesday, where he met the Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez, King of Spain, His Majesty, King Filipe VI, and gave a speech at the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization, WTO, in Madrid.
During the visit, bilateral agreements and MoUs were signed covering areas of prisoner transfer, sports and culture, and the economy.
Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Honorable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF), Abubakar Malami, signed these 3 Agreements on behalf of the FG.
What they said
Media aide to the Presidency, Tolu Ogunlesi stated that the bilateral agreements covered Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Extradition, and Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
The Presidency stated that “The Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons will allow Nigerians serving jail terms in Spanish prisons (there are apparently quite a number of them) to complete their sentences back home if they so wish. (I’m told the Agreement also guarantees some form of legal aid in Spain).”
They also added that five (5) MoUs were signed between Nigeria & Spain by Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, Sports Minister Sunday Dare, and Trade Minister Niyi Adebayo on Economic & Trade Cooperation —Sports —Health —Tourism —Science Cooperation
Reports that the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, resigned his membership of the main opposition party were met with mixed feelings. While some saw dumping a party that was unlikely to offer him the ticket as good as good riddance, others felt he was better off muscling it out with the big dogs, nevertheless.
Peter Obi came into limelight in 2006 when he became governor of Anambra State after battling in court for three years to claim his mandate wrongfully given to the then Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Chris Ngige. Obi was of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Obi contested and won a second term in office.
He left APGA in 2014 to join the PDP that “stole” his mandate. Such moves are unsurprising in Nigeria’s fluid political space. Ngige himself had left the PDP for the APC. Obi decamped without the usual fanfare that goes with movements of former governors. The state structure of the party wasn’t in his control neither did we witness bigwigs of APGA go with him to PDP. Be that as it may, Obi had warmed himself into the hearts of the regular Joe with his public appearances highlighting with his husky voice, his prudence while in office and giving elementary insights on how public funds can be managed.
However, what took his popularity to stratospheric heights was when, against political permutations, the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, selected him as running mate ahead of the 2019 general elections. It was tough to question Atiku’s pick at the time despite frowns from the Southeast caucus of the PDP and from the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the petty reasons like not being consulted before he made the choice was made. PDP lost the election, but Obi continued selling his personality and brand of governance to the public.
As politicians started showing interest in picking their party’s nomination for next year’s elections, Peter Obi was being urged to run. In January this year, he gave a cagey tweet stating that he would contest for the position of the president if PDP zoned it to the south and if not, Nigeria would hear from him.
Zoning is political and not a moral decision. The truth is that had the southwest not voted en bloc for Alliance for Democracy, a political party that then stood for the interests of the southwest region, at lower tier elections leading to the presidential elections of 1999, the argument for a southwest presidency might have been much weaker. The southeast doesn’t have such an electoral history. The voting pattern in the region, which also has the lowest electoral numbers, is sparsely distributed, making it difficult for the major political parties to lay their electoral fortunes on such uncertainties.
Furthermore, zoning worked in the past when the political space was less competitive and was a monopoly of the PDP where the powerbrokers could easily throw out a morally strong candidate that the electorate would like and at the same time fundamentally weak politically to be easily manipulated by the political elite. Times have changed. So, zoning it to the southeast would either mean a puppet red-capped man in power or a major political party risking its political fate to an opponent that presents a rival with higher political numbers. Obi is upright but sure would be nobody’s puppet. Moreover, he never presents himself as a provincial candidate, he offers himself as a Nigerian.
As time passed for PDP to decide on zoning, aspirants began making pronouncements for the top job. Obi was present when Atiku made his declaration. He joined Atiku in a few travels before he made his own modest declaration to run. Obi’s campaign which became a movement captured the hearts of his supporters. His followers grew astronomically especially on social media where they kept on prevailing on, practically blackmailing, the PDP to pick him as its candidate. They did nationwide roadshows and even went to the party headquarters demanding that Obi be chosen. Then came the news that he was resigning his membership of PDP to pursue his ambitions elsewhere.
He cited acts inconsistent with tenets of democracy in his letter of resignation. What are those inconsistencies? Was he expecting a perfect system? How different is the process this time around from that that made him vice presidential candidate in the last electoral cycle? Why leave a leading opposition party with national spread that could still place him a heartbeat away from the presidency for a little-known party? Or did he just want to avoid embarrassment at the convention?
If he couldn’t convince less than a thousand delegates to vote for him, how does he expect to win the votes of tens of millions? The argument that the delegates were bought fails as vote buying will also play a part in the general elections. Our electoral system is offensively merchandized from exorbitant price of nomination forms to dollarisation of delegates.
By the way, his emergence as the Labour Party candidate was democratically suspect with his opponents stepping down. Our misgivings against APC and PDP aside, they had competitive primaries to pick those running for their respective platforms after sales of forms were made public to aspirants. These were absent in practically all other parties. What we have mostly are ambitious people who are either offered the tickets of parties that needed recognition or the hopefuls floating their own parties. This makes one wonder how Obi, that joined a fractionalised party on Friday and became candidate on Monday, wants to benefit from the fruits of elective democracy at the polls he never sowed at the primaries.
My pedestrian political knowledge tells me that a party that gathered only 0.02% of the votes in the last general elections won’t be enough for Obi to clinch the prize. Elections are a residual memory recall decision process and are won by political parties that have traditional structures well-oiled over time.
Secondly, the voter is not only choosing a president, but he is also more importantly choosing a government. The 2023 elections are not a referendum for or against the PDP-APC duopoly, but on the soul of Nigeria and her future. So, the voter looks for a team whose captain is embodied in the president and sadly, the parties outside the big two can’t form a team. This only exposes their deficiencies of forming a government. Only APC and PDP have candidates for every elective position except the courts bar them. From my observations, Obi’s anti-elitist campaign has been mainly about him. Where are his aides and members of his cabinet when he was Anambra governor to corroborate his testimonies? How many of them are members of his campaign today? Already there are speculations on who Atiku might pick as running mate. Is Labour Party working for Obi or are they using him to gain attention?
Be that as it may, Obi’s presence in the political space is good for the system. In fact, we need more cerebrums like him to join politics to make the negotiations, compromises and strategies required to obtain power and make the changes. Because at the end of the day, they are political parties and not pressure groups. And every leader must necessarily be a politician.
And to the Obi-dient followers, we have seen this kind of cult following before for people described as unorthodox. There was one that told us he had no shoes and the other incorruptible guy told us he had an Ibo driver; we should not be carried away. Nigeria can’t be fixed by only one man’s populist agenda without addressing the deep-seated and structural defects of our system.
I also appeal that apathy is not an option because we vote to make a statement not necessarily to vote a winner and abstention is a plebiscite for the status quo. We also vote for who and what we believe in. Those that voted for Awolowo despite never winning neither regretted nor threw away their votes. And we vote to renew our faith in democracy.
Let me admonish by saying that they should pick up their PVCs, take their movement from social media and urban centres to the grassroots and trenches nationwide, and use the Obi candidacy to change the existing political order.
Reno Omokri has taken to his Instagram page to tackle supporters of former Lagos state governor and APC Presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, who according to him are complaining about President Buhari asking APC members to allow him choose his successor.
Recall that during President Buhari’s meeting with APC governors on Tuesday, May 31, he asked the governors to allow him to choose his successor. (Read here). This reportedly did not go down well with some members of the party, particularly the presidential aspirants who are hoping they clinch the party’s ticket during their convention slated for June 6th to 9th.
Posting the photo above on Instagram, Reno opined that APC members should stop complaining as their principal, Tinubu, has also been the one choosing who becomes governor of Lagos state for many years now.
He wrote;
”I don’t understand why Bola Tinubu’s people are complaining that Buhari can’t choose who the APC candidate will be. Who chooses who becomes candidate of the APC in Lagos? Is it not solely Tinubu? Who stopped Ambode from being re-elected? Was it not solely Tinubu? Did Ambode not pay for a form in 2019? Did the APC not collect his money and refuse to refund him after Tinubu rejected him? Did he not go and gather his brother Governors to beg Tinubu on his behalf? Did Governor Bagudu of Kebbi not prostrate to Tinubu on Ambode’s behalf? Not that I support the imposition of candidates. However, what is good for Lagos APC is also good for national APC! I am a student of history. I recall clearly that Samuel Doe use to cut people while they were still alive. However, when Prince Yormie Johnson arrested him on his way to seek safety with ECOMOG, Johnson gave Doe the special Doe treatment.
So, if Buhari decides to give Tinubu the special Ambode treatment, history justifies it! Tinubu cannot expect Buhari to treat him better than he, Tinubu, treated Ambode.
If Ambode was the Governor of Lagos on October 20, 2020, instead of Sanwoolu, maybe the #LekkiMassacre of peaceful, unarmed #EndSARS protesters would not have happened. But Tinubu denied him the ticket. So, Buhari can deny Tinubu just as Tinubu denied Ambode. No one will cry foul!”
A new Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) scheme tagged, “C of O Redefined”, commences in Oyo State on Wednesday, bringing an end to the previous scheme launched in 2020 named “C of O redefined”.
The new scheme, launched by State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Olayiwola Olusegun, at State Secretariat, Ibadan, prescribes various fees for residential, industrial land-owners, residential, commercial, and agricultural landowners.
He, however, maintained that upon payment of prescribed fees, applicants will get their C of O within 60 days.
As reeled out by Olayiwola, getting C of O for a residential range between N150,000 and N220,000; residential/commercial cost N400,000; commercial landowners will have to pay between N250,000 and N550,000; while agricultural landowners between N200,000 and N750,000.
He added that the new scheme was aimed at improving land administration and improve revenue generation in the state.
Asked about the complaints that bedeviled the last scheme, Olayiwola said the state government identified that the major challenge was the involvement of middlemen.
He added that the state did not issue some C of O due to coordinate errors on surveys submitted by some applicants.
Notwithstanding the challenge, Olayiwola said out of a total of 6,779 C of O applications received since 2020, the state government issued C of O to 4,804 applicants.
He added that prospective applicants are expected to produce the following documents: Application Form at N10,000.00, Passport Photograph (1), original Land Agreement, registered Survey Plan verified by Surveyor General office(N5,000.00,) Certificate of Incorporation of the company (if Commercial), Photograph of the subject property (if developed).
Olayiwola said: “Today, the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development (MLH&UD) on behalf of Oyo State Government (OYSG) launch a new Certificate of Occupancy Scheme called C of O Redefined and this is borne out of His Excellency’s passion to make Certificate of Occupancy accessible and affordable to all land users.
“In 2020, the State Government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development launched the Oyo Home Owner’s Charter (OYHOC) scheme which served as an opportunity for Prospective Home Owners to obtain their Certificate of Occupancy at an affordable price.
“While the OYHOC scheme was ongoing, the Ministry got feedback from members of the public that other land users should also be considered. That is why the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde approved and directed that all land users should be considered, hence, the birth of C-of-O Redefined, which the Ministry is launching today.
“The C of O Redefined will give opportunity for industrial landowners, residential, commercial, and agricultural landowners to apply and have their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within 60 days and at an affordable price.
“His Excellency has approved the following fees under this new scheme and it is our sincere hope that members of the public will make use of this opportunity.
“Between 2020 and now, a total number of 6,779 Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) applications was received under the HOC scheme apart from Conventional C of O and 4,804 of these applications have been processed and issued with certificates, this is an appreciable increase to Certificate of Occupancy issued during the last administration. With C of O Redefined, we hope to achieve more than we have done with OYHOC.
“The Ministry is aware that some property owners who applied for C of O are yet to be issued the same, this is due to several reasons but majorly it borders on coordinate errors and survey issues which the ministry is looking at resolving.
“In order to apply for C of O Redefined, property owners should produce the following documents: Application Form at N10,000.00; Passport Photograph (1), original Land Agreement, registered Survey Plan verified by Surveyor General office N5,000.00, Certificate of Incorporation of the company (if Commercial), Photograph of the subject property (if developed).
“It is important to state that some properties that fall within Government Acquisition, stream set back, Circular Road, High Tension Cable, Rail Line Corridors, etc are not entitled to Certificate of Occupancy and as such are not going to be issued with any.
“However, applications will commence tomorrow, June 1, 2022. We are calling on all property owners to seize this opportunity and enjoy all the benefits of C of Redefined.”
A few moments ago, a popular Nollywood actor and filmmaker who goes by the stage name Zubby Michael (real name Egwu Azubuike Michael) sparked reactions on social media platforms after he played host to Nana Atiku, the alleged daughter of former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, at his mansion.
The footage, which captured the moment, was shared via the verified Instagram account of the ace actor, and a lot of his fans and social media users who came across the post have been expressing their mixed feelings.
Recall that a few months ago, the beautiful lady gifted Zubby Michael a massive plot of land as a birthday gift, and they have been spotted together on several occasions, thereby sparking dating rumors from their fans.
In the latest post, Nana Atiku was seen being served a palatable meal alongside her friend, who accompanied her to see her friend Zubby.
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has finally spoken for the first time since Saturday night when he scored zero in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential primaries.
Fayose was one of the fourteen presidential aspirants who battled for the main opposition party’s sole presidential ticket but failed to score a single vote.
However, he has finally broken his silence, congratulating the winner, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and commending Governor Nyesom Wike, who came second.
Atiku emerged the Presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 general election, having secured a total of 371 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Wike, who garnered 237 votes.
From the details of the results from the exercise: Atiku Abubakar – 371; Nyesom Wike- 237; Bukola Saraki – 70; Udom Emmanuel – 38; Balla Mohammed – 20; Pius Anyim – 14; Sam Ohabunwa – 1; and Olivia Tariela scored 1. There were 12 void votes.
“To this end, I congratulate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar our flag-bearer and wish him and our party success in the general election
“I congratulate former VP Atiku Abubakar over his emergence as the PDP presidential candidate. I also commend Governor Nyesom Wike for remaining consistent in action and character,” Fayose tweeted.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, has been asked to disqualify Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from running for the forthcoming presidential election.
An Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, dragged the former Vice President of Nigeria to court following his victory at the presidential primary election of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Atiku had emerged the presidential standard bearer of the PDP for the 2023 general elections after polling a total of 371 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who garnered 237 votes.
However, Johnmary Jideobi, in his suit, is challenging Atiku’s Nigerian citizenship, despite serving as vice president from 1999 to 2007.
Also joined as defendants in the suit are the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.
Jideobi, in his suit, argued that Atiku is not a Nigerian citizen by birth as required by the country’s laws and does not qualify to run for the office of the President.
According to him, the former Vice President only “acquired his citizenship of Nigeria by virtue of the 1961 plebiscite which integrated some people of Northern Cameroon into Nigeria as new citizens of Nigeria.”
The plaintiff further told the court that it would amount to a grave desecration of the otherwise sacrosanct and inviolable provisions of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution if Atiku is allowed to participate in the 2023 presidential election as the PDP candidate.
He also said that the court must ensure that the INEC shall not allow any person or group of persons take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Furthermore, Jideobi prayed the court to declare that “by virtue of Sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution, it is only a Nigerian citizen by birth that is constitutionally eligible to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He further seeks a “declaration that given the circumstances of the birth of the first defendant (Atiku), he is not constitutionally qualified to stand for election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The plaintiff seeks an “order of the court disqualifying the first defendant – Atiku Abubakar – from contesting for election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He also begged the court to declare that the “PDP does not have a candidate for the office of the president in the 2023 presidential election to be organised by the third defendant.”
He sought an order of perpetual injunction stopping the former Vice President and 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP from running for the office of the President of Nigeria or occupying such office by whatever means and throughout his lifetime an order to stop the PDP from fielding Atiku as its candidate for the 2023 presidential election and an order to restrain the INEC perpetually from accepting and or publishing Atiku’s name as a candidate of PDP for the office of the President.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
The ruling All Progressives Congress’ screening committee headed by John Odigie Oyegun has received a petition to disqualify Bola Tinubu over allegations of drug dealing and certificate forgery.
An APC member Sagir Mai Iyali had in his petition to the panel alleged that how Mr Tinubu failed to indicate in his nomination filings that he had a case in the United States in the early 1990s, during which prosecutors extracted over $400,000 in forfeitures from the former Lagos governor.
Mr Tinubu was also once accused of filing false claims to the electoral office INEC when he ran for governor in 1999. Late rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi made the allegations at the time, saying Mr Tinubu falsely claimed to have attended Chicago State University.
The Supreme Court did not find Mr Tinubu ineligible to stand for office over the matter following a lengthy trial in the 2000s.
Mr Tinubu was also not convicted in the U.S., but his critics said the forfeitures were enough grounds to assume his guilt. He strongly denies all the allegations.
Mr Mai Iyali’s letter, which was first reported by Sahara Reporters, was received at the ruling party’s headquarters in Abuja as screening came underway on Monday morning. The panel is led by Mr Oyegun, who has been nursing a political rivalry against Mr Tinubu.
In his argument, Mr Mai Iyali said: “We understand that Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has since procured his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and has submitted same to the party has certain issues that clearly amount to a similar disqualification scenario.
“From the information contained in prior submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in 1999, Mr Tinubu Presented a false claim, on oath, of his attendance at University of Chicago from 1972-1976.
“It is clear now that these claims are false. Not only was this filed in the INEC form with a declaration on oath on December 20th, 1999, but it was also contained in an affidavit of loss sworn to before the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja Registry, December 29th 1998.
“The latter claim that seeks to transpose history is untenable. Mr Tinubu has to show proof he attended University of Chicago or he must stand disqualified as the opposition is in possession of these same documents.
“Over the years, the identity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been shrouded in secrecy. In fact, no one can claim to know the identity of the man.
“Similarly, the age of Tinubu is not known to anyone. Though, it’s not contention that he is above the statutory age of 35-years, it’s equally important that his exact age is known.”
The national convention and presidential primaries of the APC have been scheduled for June 6. Mr Tinubu is currently undergoing screening before the presidential nomination panel at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
A spokesman for Mr Tinubu did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the petition on Monday evening.
A 28-yearly-old female aspirant, Jennifer Ndubuisi, in Awgu North state constituency in Enugu has defeated the incumbent member, Eneh Jane Chinwendu to clinch the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the 2023 State Assembly election.
Ms Ndubuisi won the election by 14 votes while her closest opponent, Nwabisi Elozie James got 11 votes.
Though her victory was challenged and a re-election was conducted, Ndubuisi won with 16 votes, leaving her opponent with nine votes.
Ndubuisi thanked Mrs Ginika Tor, a commissioner at the Federal Character Commission, for single-handedly sponsoring her election.
Ndubuisi who spoke through her spokesman, Onyebuchi Dede, said the Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative, founded by Mrs Tor embarked on a 3-day dry fasting prior to the primary election.
“I want to appreciate no other person but our humble leader, mentor and role model, Mrs Tor,” she stated.
The youngest flag bearer in her goodwill message said, “Thank you for always standing up for women in Nigeria, speaking for us and making our voices heard. I will always stand and insist on inclusion of women and youths in Nigerian politics.
“Thank you for your financial support, love and kindness and standing up for women of Enugu state, allowing justice to reign, despite challenges, Women and youths of Enugu state are blessed and proud to have you.”
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