Politics

Akwa Ibom PDP backs Gov Emmanuel’s choice of successor

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The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is fully in support of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s choice of a successor ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

Governor Emmanuel had, on Sunday, during a meeting of PDP Stakeholders at the Government House in Uyo, presented the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Eno Umoh, as his successor.

However, the move has polarised the party in the state with some politicians who have been nursing the ambition of running for the position, lampooning the Governor and the PDD over the choice of Umoh.

However, the state PDP said it was happy and comfortable with Emmanuel’s succession plan and have thrown their weight behind him.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Aniekan Akpan, gave the governor the backing when Emmanuel visited the party secretariat on Wednesday, pledging the party’s unalloyed support and loyalty of the party structures across the state to enable the governor actualise his completion agenda.

We pledge our unflinching support towards the actualisation of your completion agenda. The party, through your support, has stabilised. We commend your achievements. You have done a lot. You are a pride to PDP.”

A former state chairman of the party, Paul Ekpo, who was also in the entourage of the governor, echoed the party chairman’s line by saying:

We will ensure that your completion agenda gets to a successful end.”

While responding to the party leaders, Governor Emmanuel said his action in choosing Umoh was in the best interest of the people.

“I would never do anything out of selfish interest. I am ready to take the bullet for the people. I am ready to take all the insults. Leadership is instituted by God. As a party, we will continue to remain united,” he said.

Politics

Akwa Ibom youth group rejects Gov. Udom’s chosen, say its imposition

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A youth group in Akwa Ibom State under the aegies of Akwa Ibom Youth Mandate (AIYM) has rejected the anointed candidate of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Pastor Umoh Enoh, saying the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources does not have their support.

The group which reacted to the announcement of Enoh as the successor to Emmanuel in 2023, said they will rather give their backing to a member of the House of Representatives, Onofiok Luke.

Governor Emmanuel had, on Sunday during a Stakeholders’ Meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the Governor’s Lodge in Uyo, announced Enoh as the person to succeed him in office in 2023, and presented him to the party for adoption and support.

But in a statement after its emergency meeting in Uyo on Tuesday, the Youth Mandate said it rejected the ‘purported candidacy of Pastor Eno,’ describing the exercise of his emergence as an “imposition against the collective will of six million population of people in state.”

The statement signed by the Speaker of the South-South Youth Assembly on behalf of the AIYM, Victor Sage Thompson, which was made available to Ripples Nigeria on Wednesday, said:

We were shocked with the news that stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State have come together to choose a successor for 6 million people of Akwa Ibom State and we wondered why that was so?

“We have witnessed everything that has gone on in this state for the past few years and as youths, as people who have been made with direct impact of every government policies, every government decisions, every situations and every happenings, we believe we should have a say on who should be our governor and who should lead us in the next election cycle.

“So that being said, we are here in consonance with what the stakeholders have done, because you believe that fathers are for directions, sons are for speed.

The stakeholders have given us a direction and have told us that, it is possible to anoint an adopt a candidate.

“As young people, we feel it is also possible to anoint and adopt our own candidate.

“So in our position, we have adopted the immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly member and currently, member representing Etinan/Nsit Ubium in the House of Representatives, Abuja, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, as our preferred candidate to succeed as the next governor of the state.

“The Akwa Ibom Youth Mandate has taken a stand and we believe this resonates with the majority of young people in Akwa Ibom State.

“We have assessed and examined the process of leadership recruitment in Akwa Ibom State; we have examined and assessed every aspirant seeking to occupy the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State and we have come to a conclusion that it is only one person that meets our criteria.”

Politics

2023: INEC warns parties against early campaigns

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday cautioned politicians and political parties against campaigning before the constitutionally approved time.

The Electoral Act stipulates that campaigns by political parties should begin 90 days before the election, and end 24 hours before the poll.

The INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, issued the warning during a capacity-building workshop for the commission’s heads of voter education and publicity officers in Abuja.

He said: “These are normal and consistent people are also free to aspire for political positions with the constitution and the electoral act. It is their constitutional rights.

As of now, we are still operating within the existing electoral framework that makes it mandatory for political parties to only begin campaigns 90 days to the election.

But if the bill before the National Assembly and assented by the President, parties could submit their nominated candidates 180 days to the election.

“What is not allowed is campaigning in public, but you can go and hold meetings with like minds.

“The chairman of the commission and the commission will meet with the heads of the nation’s security agencies and review the security situation in the country and determine further deployment and devolution of the CVR on a roll-out, roll back procedure.

“As we move closer to the 2023 general election, all the critical stakeholders and the security agencies must resolve to degrade and or neutralize the security threats across the federation.

“Our people must be assured that they can vote in a peaceful atmosphere.”

Politics

Shehu Sani decries dilapidated state of Nigerian embassies, suggests solutions

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A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central at the Senate, Shehu Sani has bemoaned the moribund state of Nigerian embassies while enumerating solutions regarding the challenge.

Sani made his stance known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

The lawmaker disclosed how most of the country’s embassies abroad have been rented without plans to buy houses for that purpose.

“I found out that we have been renting about 60 per cent of Nigerian embassies abroad, some existed far back as 1960 and we are still unable to buy a house in those countries.

“From my observation, diplomatic staffs have been fleecing this country in the name of paying rents; they prefer Nigeria to keep renting houses, rather than buying a building as an embassy.

“In the past, everything about the embassy is in the Foreign Affairs ministry, but during the era of Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ambassadors go to the Minister of Finance for them to be funded.

As such, it left the foreign affairs ministry with little or no choice on the embassy other than posting of diplomatic staffs.

Everything about embassy should go back to the foreign affairs ministry; we should have targets, every year we should buy 10 buildings, so that in five to six years, we are no more renting,” Sani said.

He further suggested trading off some of the buildings currently in disuse in order to maximise finances being expended.

“There are some buildings that we may not need; we have to trade them off and put those ones away.

“I learned we have a residence for Nigeria’s permanent representatives in New York and that residence has not been used for decades.

“If that residence has not been used for decades, we have no reason to keep that building, we need to sell it off, use the proceeds and buy other properties in other countries,” he added.

Politics

Presidency slams ‘mischievous’ criticism by PDP over Buhari’s cancelled trip to Zamfara

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The Presidency has slammed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari on his cancelled visit to Zamfara few days ago.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by a media aide to the President, Garba Shehu, who accused the PDP of being mischievous.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the PDP criticised the sudden cancellation of the president’s trip to Zamfara, rejecting the reason of bad weather as advanced by the presidency for aborting the trip.

However, Shehu stated that this stance by the PDP showcased an ignorance in the schedule of the President especially “for a party that held that office for 16 years or an act that smacks of mischief.”

He added: ”Whatever be the case, there must be a limit to trivialization.

”All over the world, Commanders-in-Chief, serving or even those that have left office cannot hop into a car and go anywhere they want, at any time of the day. In the United States, for instance, a law going as far back as 1958 prevents past Presidents from traveling on public roads without assured security (how much more of serving Presidents).

”When roads are closed for presidential movements here and elsewhere, consideration is also given to the safety of other road users, not just that of the President or even Governor.

”The statement on the issue by the PDP attacking the President for not making it to Gusau without this being planned ahead of the journey is shameful and disgraceful for a party that held the presidency of the country in the past. What is their own record?”

The spokesman further picketed the PDP for peddling lies in order to score cheap political goals.

”It is sad for the country that the bankruptcy of issues have forced the PDP, so-called leading opposition party, to hang on to life by only telling lies. And their caravan of falsehood has moved even more speedily following the inauguration of their not-so-new national executive at the end of last year.

It is equally important that local political actors who have seized upon the cancellation of the visit to describe it as a victory for this or that faction of the party, accompanied by songs, lyrics, and videos to know that their joy is a short-lived one. As he promised in that broadcast, the visit to Gusau by the President is only a matter of time.

”Given the right conditions of the weather and all other things, he will return, and in time to accomplish his mission,” he added.

Politics

Umahi lifts ban on political activities in Ebonyi

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Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has lifted a ban earlier placed on political activities in the state, giving room for governorship aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to begin consultations ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Umahi disclosed this on Wednesday during an interaction with newsmen after an enlarged Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Centenary City, in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Speaking through the State Commissioner of Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, Umahi said the time was right for him to lift the ban to allow aspirants begin their political consultations.

The Chairman-In-Council announced the lifting of the ban on political consultations ahead of the 2023 General Elections and expressed determination to consult widely, especially with the House of Assembly, the EXCO, the Elders Council, Founding Fathers, Women Organizations, CAN and other relevant groups with a view to getting opinions on where the Governorship position shall be zoned to,” he said.

“For the Governorship seat, he made it clear that Ebonyi South, having benefited from the principle of zoning, shall not be allowed to contest as his administration’s support shall be for Abakaliki block.

“EXCO noted the intention of the Chairman of Council and kick-started the debate on where the Governorship seat will be zoned between North and Central Zones,” he added.

Politics

Former Ekiti PDP chairman, Kolawole, clinches party’s guber ticket

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The immediate past Chairman of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabisi Kolawole, on Wednesday, emerged as the candidate of the party for the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Kolawole, who enjoyed the support of former state governor Ayo Fayose and most of the party hierarchy, polled a total of 671 votes out of 1185, to defeat his closest rival, Segun Oni, himself a former state governor who got 330 votes.

The Ekiti gubernatorial ticket was contested by eight aspirants including former deputy to Fayose, Prof. Olusola Eleka, who was the PDP candidate in the 2018 election won by the current governor, Kayode Fayemi.

Other aspirants were the former PDP National Treasurer, Wale Aribisala, Bisi Kolawole, Kayode Adaramodu, Lateef Ajijola, and Mrs Titilayo Owolabi-Akerele.

Politics

2023: We did not endorse Tinubu to succeed Buhari – Miyetti Allah

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Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refuted reports that it endorsed National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President.

MACBAN said the position of individual members of on who succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 should not be regarded as a general one.

National Secretary, Baba Ngelzarma in a rebuttal issued on Wednesday, stressed that the association respects the ambition of all aspirants and was yet to pitch its tent with any of them.

The attention of MACBAN headquarters has been drawn to stories in the media claiming that we have endorsed the presidential aspiration of Sen. Ahmed Tinubu.

“We want to make it clear that the association has not endorsed any candidate. Those who endorsed Tinubu are doing so as individuals.

“MACBAN should not in any way be dragged into the politics of endorsement at this stage,” Ngelzarma said.

On January 10, Tinubu formally informed Buhari of his desire to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer.

Politics

Ortom has broken record as governor with longest unpaid salaries – Presidency

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The Presidency has described Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state as a ‘failed politician’ who offers excuses for his state’s challenges, claiming he currently holds the country’s longest record of unpaid salaries and pensions.

The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu stated this in a statement titled “The Incongruence of Governor Samuel Ortom on Arise TV” in reaction to Ortom’s interview on Arise News on January 21, 2022.

The governor, who recently signed the amended Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017 in Makurdi last Thursday lambasted the Buhari regime for the farmer-herder clashes in the state as well as the unpaid salaries of state government workers.

In reaction, Shehu said Ortom had continued to blame the President who didn’t owe federal workers for his woes, instead of raising money to settle unpaid salaries.

The statement read; “There are two types of politicians in Nigeria today. The first are politicians who are leaders that offer solutions to the challenges facing the voters and the country. They bring forward policies and implement them, to improve the lives of others.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is a leader. He inherited a treasury that successive previous administrations had emptied – and he sought and succeeded in repatriating billions of dollars of stolen funds from overseas. His administration discovered more than 500,000 bank accounts operated by Ministries, Agencies and Departments. In these accounts, the money belonging to the government was kept.

“MDAs are now compelled to use the Treasury Single Account, TSA, domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. And the President brought forward the first and only plan to address farmer-herder clashes in 100 years, supporting states to rediscover grazing reserves and create ranching lands that have successfully reduced tensions while increasing harmony and saving lives.

“MDAs are now compelled to use the Treasury Single Account, TSA, domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. And the President brought forward the first and only plan to address farmer-herder clashes in 100 years, supporting states to rediscover grazing reserves and create ranching lands that have successfully reduced tensions while increasing harmony and saving lives.

“Governor Samuel Ortom, office holder, is that other politician. He inherited unpaid salaries and pension arrears – and rather than find a way to raise funds to pay them, he has blamed the President.”

Politics

Lawan calls for calm in Yobe community after killing of driver sparks unrest

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Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said on Monday that a thorough investigation should be conducted into the murder of a driver at Garin Alkali in Bursari Local Government Area (LGA), of Yobe State.

A driver was reported murdered in the State last Saturday, an incident that has since caused unrest in Gashua, the headquarters of Bade Local Government of the State.

Lawan, who bared his mind, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, commiserated with the family of the victim and described his killing as wicked and reprehensible.

He said: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic news at Garin Alkali on Saturday and the violent reactions that followed it. The killing of the innocent driver is wicked and reprehensible. It should not be condoned for whatever reason.

My heart goes out to the family of the victim. May Allah console them over their bereavement.

“I urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to establishing why and how it happened and applying appropriate sanctions to deter future reoccurrence.

“I also appeal for calm and assure the peace-loving members of the community that justice will be served in this matter.”

Politics

I will run for President in 2023 under one condition —Utomi

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Renowned political commentator and economist, Pat Utomi has revealed his interest in the Presidency dependent on some factors.

Utomi made the disclosure on Saturday during an interview with Arise TV, stating that his ambition was subject to a consensual agreement by the Igbo people.

The issue of an Igbo Presidency has been the subject of various political discourses with some stakeholders advocating for the region to produce the next President, in the interest of equity.

Nonetheless, the two major political parties — the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — are yet to decide on zoning the Presidency but high-profile politicians from the APC such as Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dave Umahi have signified their interests in gunning for the coveted post.

In his statement during the interview, Utomi said, “Igbo Candidacy? If people come to me and say, ‘Look! We have looked at your background. We have looked at your whole life of service and we think you are the candidate that the Igbo nation needs to offer to Nigeria, I would have no problem with that. But, am I driven by the very fact of position?

“Look, there are people who have been Presidents in Nigeria, who if you give me their place in history; I would rather never have held any office in Nigeria than be what history would remember them as. So, the fact of office and power has very little attraction to me as a person but service to transform the lives of people matter to me.

“It is about the people. Honestly, it is not about people who would hire crowds to come and say, ‘These people have come to ask me to run.’ No. I have always seen service about people looking around them. Almost everything I have done in my life is to literally see it as a duty.”

Politics

Don’t abuse or insult Tinubu – Osinbajo warns

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Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has warned his supporters not to insult National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as they both jostle for the party’s presidential ticket ahead of 2023 general election.

Osinbajo served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos during Tinubu’s reign as governor.

The VP and ex-governor are both seeking to clinch the APC 2023 presidential ticket, which has elicited exchanges between their supporters.

Some supporters of Tinubu had accused Osinbajo of being an ingrate for not supporting the former’s presidential quest despite what the APC leader did for him politically.

Vanguard reports that sources close to the VP, said Osinbajo is against any of his supporters abusing Tinubu over their ambition.

He warned: “Even if his supporters abuse my mother, don’t retaliate. On no account must he be insulted or denigrated.”

Politics

Again, Buhari assures Nigerians his govt will crush terrorists, bandits

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President Muhammadu Buhari, has once again, reassured Nigerians of the resolve of his government to eliminate and crush terrorists, bandits and other criminals operating in different parts of the country before the expiration of his administration.

Buhari, who gave the assurance on Friday at a State Banquet organized in his honour by Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the end of the President’s two-day official visit to Kaduna State, said the deadly and worrisome activities of bandits in the state and other parts of the country would soon be a thing of the past.

‘‘I wish to assure the people and government of Kaduna State and Nigerians in general that the Federal Government is doing its utmost to contain and crush the terrorists menacing our citizens and their property in parts of the country.

On behalf of the Federal Government, I commend the efforts of the Kaduna State Government to respond to the demands of development and its prompt response to the security challenges in the state.

‘‘The relationship between our tiers of government represents an instance of successful collaboration between the national and State governments for progress, peace and prosperity.

“I urge Malam Nasir El-Rufai to push on and not relent in his efforts to accelerate change and progress in Kaduna State,” the President said.

Politics

Nigeria has lost direction under Buhari – Fayose

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A former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said on Wednesday the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must produce Nigeria’s next President in 2023 because of the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.

Fayose, who appeared on a Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, insisted that Nigeria has lost its bearing under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch.

He also charged the President to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill in the interest of the country.

The National Assembly had earlier on Wednesday re-amended the electoral bill and approved both direct and indirect primaries for political parties in the country.

The lawmakers also added the consensus option for the nomination of candidates by parties.

He said: “PDP must produce the next President in Nigeria. There is nobody that can vote for this party (APC) again. The government has lost its bearing on how to control the country. People are hungry, you are building a rice pyramid. Carry the rice to the grassroots.

“Now that the National Assembly has done the right thing, he (Buhari) should waste no time at assenting to the bill and let the process have enough time to adjust.

“It is becoming common of President Muhammadu Buhari to dodge assent. Remember before the 2019 elections, he was supposed to sign this thing to law; he did not, he gave excuses.

“I am not saying what the National Assembly did is right or wrong, but President Buhari should leave office and leave with a name that people will remember that he turned around the electoral process.”

Politics

Nigeria would have been history if Buhari had not been president —Gov Ayade

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Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has attributed Nigeria’s continued existence to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, saying the country would have been history by now.

Ayade who spoke on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, said the efforts Buhari put in at tackling the myriad of problems the country faced caused by past administrations, was what kept the country together till date.

Ayade particularly lauded Buhari’s efforts at addressing insecurity in the country, insisting that without the President’s intervention by employing his military background in tackling the menace, terrorists and insurgents would have crippled the country.

According to Ayade, “there was an international conspiracy against the country, particularly the northern regions” and the country would have collapsed if Buhari had not intervened.

Perhaps, if it was not Buhari’s administration with his military background, the country would have collapsed at this stage,” the Governor said.

People don’t know that because if you have been able to avoid risk, nobody can see it because it was avoided. I think the situation could have been worse,” he added.

On insecurity, Ayade had this to say:

“Security comes first and what President Buhari did on assumption of office was to curtail the onslaught of Boko Haram which was very important in order to prevent the implosion of the country.

“This country would have collapsed if not for Buhari’s military background and the situation could have been worse.

“The crisis we would have found ourselves in would have been worse than the ISIS crisis in the Middle East, so we Nigerians must give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Politics

If the APC finds me worthy to run for President, I won’t say no —Gov Ayade

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The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, has not ruled out the possibility of running for President in 2023, but only if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), finds him worthy to be given the ticket.

Ayade, who made this known when he featured on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, said he would not disobey the party if the leadership nominated him to run for the topmost position in the country.

Ayade who defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year, however, said he would not go out of his way to seek the party ticket as he would not want to rock the peaceful boat of the party.

“I think the party should take a decision based on zoning principles which would be resolved as a party.”

When asked if he would consider running for President in 2023, Ayade said:

“Let me say, yes and no; if the APC family finds that I am fit and proper, yes.

“But if the family (APC) finds that there is a better option and that option fits into the zoning arrangement, of course, I will stand by the party position. I am a conformist; I stand with the system. I have never been an aberrant, I work with the system.”

Politics

Abia Court tells Nigerian govt it has jurisdiction to hear Kanu’s suit

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The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu on Wednesday scored a victory over the Federal Government during a court sitting at the Abia State High Court.

This was contained in a tweet issued on Wednesday by Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor who tweeted, “Breaking: MNK wins as Abia High Court rejects Nigerian Government’s challenge to its jurisdiction to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental rights suit. Judgement on other issues in progress.”

More details later…

Politics

We provided Kanu with new mattress and pillow, but he refused new clothes —DSS lawyer

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Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecution counsel in the ongoing case between the federal government and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, has explained that the Department of State Service (DSS) provided Kanu with new mattress, pillow and clothes as directed by the Judge, but he (Kanu) refused the clothes.

Contrary to the order of Justice Binta Nyako, Kanu appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for his trial, putting on the same Fendi designer clothes he has been wearing since June last year when he was arrested.

Justice Nyako had on Tuesday, ordered the DSS to allow Kanu to have a change of cloth, as well as a good mattress.

Meanwhile, when the matter was called up today, Mr. Labaran, told the court that Kanu was the one that chose to wear his designers Fendi clothes.

He said: “My lord, based on your order yesterday, we provided the Defendant with a new Orthopedic mattress, pillows and blankets.

“As for his appearance, he chose to wear this particular one because he said that it is designers”.

However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the court that Mr. Labaran’s claim was not entirely true, noting that his client had not insisted on wearing the same clothes.

He confirmed that the DSS provided Kanu with new mattress and pillows.

“I want to commend the DSS and the court for ensuring that it was done”.

Kanu is being arraigned on 15 count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

Politics

Buhari to attend Gambian President’s inauguration Wednesday

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President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja, for Banjul, The Gambia, on Wednesday to attend the inauguration of the country’s President, Adama Barrow.

Barrow was re-elected for another term of five years in December last year.

He was first elected in 2016 after defeating Gambian longtime President, Yahaya Jammeh, in the presidential country’s election.

President Buhari will join other African leaders at the event slated for the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd), Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials.

Politics

Buhari didn’t order removal of fuel subsidy – Lawan

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The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari has not ordered the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its state councils to mobilize members for a one-day nationwide protest on January 27 over the planned removal of fuel subsidy and imposition of 10 percent excise duty on soft drinks by the Federal Government.

This followed the declaration by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in October last year that the Federal Government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022.

Lawan, who addressed State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the National Assembly was concerned about the agitations and protests across the country.

He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I have come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things.

“Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.

And we have just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And will feel the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.”

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