Gombe will go ahead with Ruga scheme —Gov Inuwa

Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has expressed reservation over the suspension of the Ruga settlement scheme by the Federal Government, saying the state would go ahead with the scheme.

The governor stated this after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

Buhari had on Wednesday suspended the`Ruga Settlement’ Programme initiated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in preference for the National Economic Council’s National Livestock Transformation Plan.

Yahaya, who spoke in Hausa language said, “President Buhari’s intention on the Ruga settlement scheme is laudable and the people of Gombe, who are predominantly Fulanis will definitely key into it.

“As I speak to you now, Gombe state government has set aside over 200,000 hectares of land for the implementation of the Ruga Settlement scheme in the state.

“So, because some states rejected the scheme doesn’t mean that Gombe state will not go ahead to implement it.

“Till now, I don’t want to believe that the pilot scheme has been suspended. We are going to continue with it, because to us it’s a very good initiative in view of the hardship our people (herdsmen) are now facing.

“We need to find a lasting solution to their predicaments so as to save their lives because they are Nigerians too,” he said.

(NAN)

Lagos boat mishap: All bodies recovered, handed over to relatives – LASWA

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Friday said that all the bodies of June 29 boat mishap’s victims had been found and handed over to their relatives.

The Managing Director of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the corpses of the remaining five bodies found were also handed over to their families.

Emmanuel said that the rescue operations had ended while investigations continued to prevent recurrence of such unfortunate accident on waterways.

“All bodies have been recovered and handed over to their relatives under the supervision of LASEMA and the community leaders.

“This includes the remaining corpses which were outstanding. So, search and rescue has been concluded, while Marine Police continues its investigation,” he said.

The LASWA boss commiserated with the families of those who lost loved ones and the entire Ikorodu community on the boat mishap which occurred on Saturday at about 10p.m.

He said that the authority would continue to stay committed to ensuring safety across the entire waterways.

The LASWA boss advised all boat operators and passengers not to flout the waterways laws which prohibited night travel and non usage of life jackets

He said rescue efforts were carried out by the combined operations of LASWA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Marine Unit of the Nigerian Police Force SEHMU, the community and other relevant agencies.

NAN reports that the boat mishap occurred mid-sea at about 10.00 p.m on Saturday, June 29, along Badore-Ijede Route with only three survivals.

The 20-capacity unmarked passengers’ boat with 60″Hp engine capsized after being hit by several waves enroute Egbin Jetty in Ijede, Ikorodu from a landing jetty in Badore-Ajah axis of Lagos.

LASWA’s on the spot investigation carried out revealed that the incident was caused by poor visibility on the part of the captain and the passengers not wearing life jackets.

NAN

Gunmen kidnap Chinese Man In Edo

Two Chinese men working with a glass and aluminium firm in Edo state have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

According to reports, the incident happened on Wednesday at the Utesi community, along the Benin-Auchi Road.

The report also has it that the police officer attached to the immigrant lost his life in the process.

A source, who spoke to newsmen about the incident, said: “As soon as the victims came out of the company’s premises, the gunmen, who apparently had been waiting for them, started trailing them.”

The source added that the gunmen killed the cop attached to the victims, before abducting the Chinese.

Confirming the incident, DanMallam Muhammed, the state Commissioner of Police said “Yes, the incident was reported to us on Wednesday. We are working hard to rescue the victims from the kidnappers.”

How Nigerian Army seized our land in Lagos, rented to bunkerers – Mathew Daniel’s family alleges

The prominent St. Mathew Daniel Family of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State has accused the Nigerian Army of seizing and renting out their land gazetted by the Federal Government with no. 117. Vol. 100 dated 26th December 2013.

Mr. Agboola Anjou, the chairman of Grand Children of St. Mathew Daniel Family, at a press conference on behalf of his entire clan in Lagos, lamented the refusal of the military arm to vacate the family land near the 56 Signal Command, Nigerian Army, Mile 2, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Lagos in defiance to a court judgment.

Anjou, who spoke alongside the family lawyer, Barrister Remi Atoyebi of Matanmi Chamber, stated that the world should know, “the level of impunity going on in Nigeria under the Muhammadu Buhari led administration that claims to be waging war against sleaze, gross misconduct and impunity”

He said: “The 58-hectare land is a subject of Lagos State High Court decision. After that judgment, which ordered the Army to relinquish the land, they decided to fence off 58 acres illegally. The court also ordered the army to pay our family compensation of the sum of twenty million naira (N20 million) in 1993 for illegally encroaching on the Land which they have paid.

“However, they fenced an extra 58 acres and the court ordered them to give it back to the family. The army has refused to return it. At a point, they released the land to us which Barrister Makun Alabi, one of the family’s grandchildren signed for, but the army still did not vacate the land up till this moment.

“The land is now a haven of bunkering, the NNPC pipeline that passes beside the land is now being used to scoop fuel, sabotaging the economy of Nigeria. Army rented the land to a relation of a former Senator in Lagos State, Adeline Mamora and One Alhaji Success from Kwara state to be used as cover for oil bunkering. Over forty trailers are parked on the land by oil barons who pay less than N10million daily to some top Army officers.”

According to him, the land measuring 627 hectares was given to the St. Mathew Daniel Family by the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on Friday, the 28th of February, 1986 by Justice Dahunsi Olugbemi Coker in a suit number SC.80/1984 and unanimously adopted by other members of the panel: Justice Anthony Nnanezie Aniagolu, Justice Augustine Nnamani, Justice Mohammed Uwais, Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-whyte, Justice SaiduKawu and Chukwudigu Oputa.

Anjou, recalled that after the verdict, the family took over the land and divided into two blocks, A and B.

His words: “A was divided into 12 covering the entire children of the late patriarch, Chief St. Mathew Daniel and B was divided into twelve – all shared among the children For block A, it was about 11 acres per children while B was divided into 36-acre Per children.

“After the children shared the land among themselves, however, the Authority of the Nigerian Army through the 56 Signal Command at Mile 2, Ojo Road, Lagos, encroached into about 58 acres and fenced it amongst the land legally acquired by them leading to the family dragging the Army Authority to Court before Justice A. Ade Alabi of Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja in 1991.

“The court action against the Army with number LD/2659/91 which dragged for two years was finally decided in favour the St. Daniel Family on Wednesday 1st September 1993. The case, filed by one Chief Francisca Adeyanju – St. Mathew Daniel on behalf of the St. Mathew Daniel with the Nigerian Army, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister of Works and Housing and the Attorney General of the Federation as Respondents.

“In her ruling ordering the Army to vacate the land, Justice Ade Alabi, aside lampooning the Army for unlawfully taking possession of lands belonging to civilians, awarded cost of N2,000 against the Respondents.

“The court also ordered the authority of the Nigerian Army to pay the sum of twenty million, four hundred thousand naira only (N20,400, 000) as fine to the St. Mathew Daniel Family for illegally encroaching the Family land, almost a decade before the verdict.

“The fine, a total of twenty one million, two hundred an ninety six thousand, six hundred and ninety six naira (N21,296,696) debt was paid by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the family through their lawyer, Mr. Tunde Seriki of Tunde Seriki & Co into a United Bank of Africa (UBA) Account Number 201-18454-7 on 15th September 1996.

“However, after several appeals, the authority of the Nigerian Army, in the presence of the public and the press, handed over the 58.228 acres of land were handed over to Barrister Mako Alabi-St Mathew Daniels by Major General S.E Asemota, the then Commandant, Nigerian Army Signals, Ojo, Lagos 30th November, 2011.

“Later, the authority of the Nigerian Army filed a suit with No. CA/L/798M/10 at Lagos division of the Court of Appeal against the 1993 judgment of Justice Ade Alabi of the Lagos State High Court. However, the Army reversed, filed a notice dated 6th on May 2015 before the court presided over by Hon. Justice J.S Ikyegh to discountenance from the appeal and the case was subsequently struck out without objection from the respondents’ Lawyer, Atoyebi.”

The family said to prove their commitment to peace, the family in an undertaking signed by Mr. Agbola Anjou with the Nigerian Army on 14th December 2018, promised never to undergo or institute further court actions against the authority.

They added that after failing to get the Nigerian Army to vacate the land, the St. Mathew Daniel Family in a letter dated 31st May, 2019 written by Mr. Agbola Anjou and another letter dated 19th July 2018, written by their Lawyers, F.B.A Nabena and Idaewor Alaoye (Mrs) of Shammah Chambers, appealed to the immediate past Minister of Defense, Brigader Mansur Dan Alli (rtd.) to intervene.

Alli in his response to the letter which was personally delivered to him by Anjou, promised to ensure the family gets justice.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, did not pick calls to his number or reply text message requesting an official position on the matter as at press time.

Fayemi gives succour to ‘hopeless’ aged widow

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Thursday gave financial lifeline to ‘hopeless and helpless’ elderly woman in the State.

The woman, Mrs. Leah Ogundipe who had spoken on Monday from the street of Igede Ekiti on “Meet Your Governor”, the monthly Programme narrated what she was facing as a hopeless and helpless widow.

Mama Olufunmike Ogundipe lost her husband in 1994 and lost one of her children who was the bread winner of the family in 2010 since then life had been unbearable for her.

Ogundipe who in the vox pop called on Governor Fayemi to make life better for the elders, saying since he left office in 2014 no programmes was target at alleviating their sufferings.

The old woman who said she had only N100 in possession, appealed to the Governor to quickly re-introduce stipend for the elders, saying with the remain the only hope of many of them in the State.

She added that with the money she would be able feed herself and her unemployed child.

The governor who was touched by the widow’s honest appeal ordered his aides to bring Mrs Ogundipe to his office.

The widow was brought in company of one of her daughter, Funmilayo Ogundipe who is the only children in Ekiti State.

Fayemi who presented a cash gift to the widow, ordered that she should be pencilled down as an automatic recipient of the stipends for the elders commencing in October

Apart from that, the governor also directed the DG Enterprise & Microfinance, Hon. Kayode Fasae to immediately give Funmilayo a temporary job placement.

In the same vein, the Director General Employment, Labour and Productivity, Hon. Lanre Ogunjobi was directed to capture her for permanent job when recruitment begins.

While speaking, Mama Ogundipe in an emotional-laden commended the philanthropic gestures of the governor, saying the people didn’t got it wrong for voting him.

Atiku praises Adeleke for his spirit of sportmanship

I join with people of goodwill all over Nigeria to say to Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the people of the great state of Osun, that we stand with them in good times and in difficult days.

The Supreme Court has ruled and because of its judicial finality, the legal case is over. However, the love, acceptance and endorsement that the people of Osun bestowed on both Senator Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party is not over and cannot be overlooked.

Those who think this is the end of the road for Senator Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun, are greatly mistaken. This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. No. Today marks the continued ascendancy of Senator Adeleke and his party in the hearts and minds of his people.

They had expected that the progress and development that the Adeleke family had consistently brought to Osun will be translated to their governance. That hope is not dead. Only delayed.

I extend my right hand of brotherhood to Senator Adeleke in all his future endeavours and I assure the good people of the state of Osun that the Peoples Democratic Party remembers their love and acceptance and will never forget to stand by them no matter the situation.

Finally, I urge the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it. In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.

El-Zakzaky: Shi’ites warn Buhari, speak on planning violent protests in Nigeria

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites, have threatened to hold President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for the deteriorating health condition of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, whom they said have been held in detention without access to medical treatment abroad.

This was contained in a statement signed on Thursday by the IMN spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, which denied speculations that the Shi’ites were planning a violent protest in Abuja and other parts of the country with a view to pressing for the release of El-Zakzaky.

He however called for the immediate release of the IMN leader, stressing that “The Islamic group will personally hold President Buhari responsible if anything should happen to El-Zakzaky or his wife in detention custody. Despite their deteriorating health condition and the Federal High Court’s Judgement, the Government has continued to keep them.”

“We hereby categorically and unequivocally dissociate ourselves from such unfounded and baseless threats of violence in pursuance of our demand for the immediate freedom of our revered Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, his wife Malama Zeenah Ibrahim and indeed all those the government is still detaining in relations to the infamous Zaria massacre of December, 2015.

“We have previously stated uncountable times and demonstrated it over the years that use of violence and issuance of threats are not in our character and have never, ever been our modus operandi.This is not going to change.

“Our peaceful Free Zakzaky campaigns over the past years since the government-sponsored genocide is enough attestation of our peaceful disposition even in the face of extreme provocation,” Musa said.

The Shi’ites continued: “Sheikh Zakzaky has never ever preached violence, hence anyone seen threading the path of violence can never be one of us. The government might just be trying to tarnish the image of the Islamic Movement in an attempt at justifying Buhari’s glaring failures in all spheres of governance”.

“Be rest assured that we would continue with our peaceful mass protests and take all legitimate ways in seeking redress as we have done until we exposed the atrocities of this government against peaceful citizens. We will never be deterred in the pursuit of our inalienable rights guaranteed in the constitution.

“We are once again calling for the immediate release of our leader and his wife, whose health situations appear to be deteriorating very fast, especially in view of the reported poisoning they were subjected to in detention. Their health status is of paramount significance to us all and Buhari must be held responsible should anything untoward happen to either the Sheikh or his wife,” Musa added.

SDP backs Gbajabiamila on appointment of minority principal officers

The Social Democratic Party, (SDP)has aligned with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on the choice of Principal Minority Officers announced during plenary on Wednesday.

The position of SDP was made known by its only member in the House, Tajudeen Adefisoye, (‘Young Alhaji’) .

Adefisoye spoke with reporters after all members of the minority parties read a communique on the choice of Minority Principal Officers announced by the Speaker.

Adefisoye who is representing Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency of Ondo state said the names read by the Speaker on the floor of the House truly reflected the choices made by members of the minority parties.

He said” I speak on behalf of my party, the SDP which is one of the minority parties in the House. I want to make it amply clear that the names read on the floor of the House by the Speaker were the ones duly nominated and endorsed by myself and other colleagues in minority parties”.

He described the Principal Minority Officers announced by the speaker as very competent and responsible honourable members that the House could readily vouch for their reliability and moral standings.

Adefisoye also described the names sent by the PDP to the Speaker as a mere manifestation of wishful thinking.

He said, ” The names sent to the Speaker by the PDP is null and void as far as we are concerned. The reality is that PDP cannot unilaterally decide on the issue of minority principal officers for all other minority parties. After all, PDP is just one party out of the multiple minority parties in the House”.

The minority principal officers are Ndudi Olumelu – Minority Leader, Hon. Tobi Okechukwu – Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Gideon Gwoni – Minority Whip and Hon. Adesegun Adekoya -Deputy Minority Whip.

Police begin manhunt for Bayelsa cops’ killers

The Nigeria Police has begun a massive manhunt for the killers of a Divisional Police Officer and three other cops, including a pregnant officer, during an attack on a police station at Agugama, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday.

Sources at the state police command headquarters said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had made good his promise to send a crack team of detectives from the Force Headquarters to hunt down the perpetrators.

Unknown gunmen had in the early hours of Monday invaded the Agudama/Ekpetiama Police Station in Yenagoa and killed four police officers there.

Though no official statement on the arrival of the detectives had been made, our correspondent, who visited the state police command headquaters on Wednesday, however, noticed increased activities and more police personnel than the usual.

Sources said the detectives had begun preliminary work to complement the efforts of the Bayelsa State Police Command in carrying out discrete investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, condemnation has continued to follow the attack on the police station and the killing of the four police personnel.

A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Keniebi Okoko, condemned Monday’s attack on the police station.

In a statement on Wednesday, Okoko described the attack as not only barbaric, but an action that should not be condoned by any civilised society.

He maintained that in a society where there was no sanction for bad behaviour, evil would thrive, and urged the police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

While condoling with the families of the deceased, Okoko stressed the need for every Nigerian to be security conscious and urged the residents of the state to help the security agencies by providing useful information.

Okoko added, “It is unfortunate and indeed sad that the four security agents were gruesomely murdered while serving their fatherland. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased.

“While we mourn these great men and a woman, who paid the supreme price for their country, we must not also forget to seize the moment to say that the government must ensure that incidents like this do not become a regular occurrence.

“It is worrisome and very disturbing that a gang could brazenly attack a police station, which should be a dependable resort for citizens, who need help when they are in danger.”

The Director, Heineken Lokpobiri Campaign Organisation, Warman Ogoriba, also joined others to condemn the gruesome murder of the cops.

Ogoriba said the police must be up and doing in fishing out the hoodlums.

“This incident and several others throughout the country must be condemned by everybody who loves this state,” he said.

He commended the IG for promptly deploying special tactical police squads in the state to unravel the mystery behind the attack and apprehend the perpetrators.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

The Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, the Board of Trustees and the Pastor in Council wish to condemn, in very strong terms, a video production titled 'Juba F'Olorun' produced by Funmi Ade Bank Anthony, whose contents portray the Celestial Church of Christ and its faithfuls in very negative light.

The said video production which has been given extensive exposure on YouTube  and on the social media viz Facebook, Instagram, et all parades scenes where people clothed in the Sutana ( the Celestial Church garment) and scenes shot within the confines of a Celestial Church of Christ parish, engaged in lurid dance steps, smoking of Marijuana, reckless display of violence and use of very foul language.

We wish to categorically state that the foregoing portrayals do not represent what the Celestial Church of Christ stands for. We are a Bible believing church that operates under the divine direction of the Holy Spirit. Our rules and tenets forbid our faithfuls from smoking cigarettes, Marijuana, use of hard drugs and consumption of any type of alcoholic beverages. Bona fide members of our church must not engage in any form of immorality. Fornication, adultery, night crawling and ills like fighting and back biting are an anathema.

The damage done to the image of the Celestial Church of Christ by this totally condemnable video production is indeed enormous. It is true that as a church of God, we are slow to tow the path of seeking redress in a court of law but even at that, we cannot continue to fold our arms while the image of our church is continuously battered by others. This is not the first time that this is happening. We say enough is enough!

The following steps have been taken by the authorities of the church to address this unacceptable development:

The Parish where the scenes in the said video was shot has been identified and the Shepherd has been summoned to appear before a disciplinary panel. Appropriate sanctions would be meted out thereafter.

A letter of complaint has been sent to the Director General of the Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board to register our displeasure and to demand for the necessary intervention of the Board in the case at hand and actions to prevent any future recurrence.

Letter of complaint to the leadership of all associations governing the production and marketing of local movies across genres.

A letter of complaint, registering our displeasure to the producer of the offensive video production. And a demand of an apology to the church by the producer in at least two national newspapers.

In the weeks to come, the Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa will issue pastoral proclamations that would spell out very severe sanctions on any Shepherd, Parish and Parochial Committee that allows such derogatory video productions to be shot in their parishes.

In the weeks to come also, the leadership of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide will address a press conference on this and other issues affecting our great church.

Finally, we wish to appeal to all members of the church spread across continents to remain good ambassadors of the church. We salute all those who stood up to condemn this unsavoury video production, just as we call on all Celestial faithfuls to remain calm and not to take the laws into their hands.

Be assured that corrective measures are being taken. May the Lord continue to bless His church. Amen.

SVMSE Kayode Ajala Jp, M.P.I.C
Chairman, Committee on Publicity, the Press and Publications.

Gbajabiamila announces Doguwa, other APC Reps as principal officers

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Thursday announced Alhassan Doguwa from Kano State, as the leader of the House.

He also named Peter Akpatason as Deputy Leader, Tahir Monguno as Chief Whip and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha as Deputy Chief Whip.

Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency, was former Chief Whip of the 8th House.

Meanwhile, other appointments were affirmed for minority leaders.

Against the backdrop of the appointments made by People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Gbajabiamila had named Ndudi Elumelu as the House Minority Leader.

Elumelu from Delta State was named alongside Toby Okechukwu as Minority Leader, Gideon Gwani as Minority Whip and Adesegun Adekoya as Deputy Minority Whip.

But the declaration met stiff opposition from the PDP and its lawmakers.

The opposition party had in a letter on Wednesday plenary announced Kingsley Chinda as its leader.

The party also nominated Chukwuka Onyema as Deputy Minority Leader, Yakubu Barde as Minority Whip and Muraina Ajibola as Deputy Minority Whip.

Vehicle plunges into Ososa river in Ogun

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Command, on Thursday said three persons died while 11 others sustained various degrees of injuries when a commercial bus plunged into Ososa river on Ijebu-Ode/Sagamu Expressway in Ogun.

Mr Clement Oladele, the Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, who confirmed the accident to NAN in Abeokuta, said that the accident occurred around 10:32 a.m.

Oladele noted that the accident was due to mechanical deficiency which resulted to loss of control of the vehicle by the driver.

“A total of 14 people comprising five male adults and nine female adults were involved in the fatal crash. Eleven people were injured while three persons which included one male and two female died in the crash.

“The lone crash involved a yellow coloured Mazda E220 commercial bus which took off from Ijebu-Ode Motor park for Lagos,’’ he said.

Oladele explained that the injured victims had been taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, while the corpses were deposited at the same hospital mortuary.

He said that efforts were currently ongoing to evacuate the bus from the river.

The FRSC boss commiserated with the families of the victims and advised motorists to always put their vehicles in good condition before any trip.

Oladele urged motorists to be cautious during the rainy season to avoid road crash.

BREAKING: Taraba Governor Signs Death Sentence For Kidnappers

Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state has signed into law, anti kidnapping act which provides capital punishment for offenders.

The governor appended his signature on Wednesday in Jalingo after the state Assembly passed the act after its third reading.

Taraba state has experienced several high-profile kidnappings in recent times. 

Hosea Ibi, a state lawmaker from Takum was kidnapped and killed by his abductors in January 2018, even after a ransom was paid.

In the past two years, no fewer than 20 persons, some of them government officials were kidnapped from their homes and on the roads while travelling. It is, therefore, hoped that the law would check the menace.

Under the new law, if convicted of kidnapping, offenders would be penalised by death. 

The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Peter Abel Diah, was unanimously supported.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, said, "The law is intended to help contain kidnapping which is today a major concern in Taraba. 

"Under the new law, anybody found guilty of abduction or kidnapping in the state will pay the supreme price for it. 

"The law is a product of government's concern about insecurity in the state, particularly, kidnapping for money which is rampant in the state and other parts of the country."

Plateau guber: Tribunal again orders INEC to supply Useni, PDP relevant documents

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to supply Senator Jeremiah Useni and the PDP all the relevant documents they need to support their petition filed before the tribunal.

This followed an oral application made by Senior Counsel to the petitioners, Edward Pwajok SAN.

Pwajok had informed the tribunal that the electoral umpire has so far failed to fully comply with its earlier order to make available to the petitioners Certified True Copies of “forms, voters registers and any other relevant documents the Applicants may request for the purpose of instituting and/or maintaining the Applicants Petition”.

We recalls that the Tribunal Order was made on 1st April, 2019, and subsequently duly served on INEC.

The Petitioners’ Counsel however said that although they had paid INEC the sum of N4m “good money”, INEC was yet to allow his team full access to all the requested election documents; “this is very unfair, my lords.”

When the Tribunal Chairman, Justice H. A. Saleeman sought to know why INEC had only partially complied with its order, INEC Counsel Clement Onwuenwunor said rather that, “We are working on it. It is never our intention to deny the Petitioners access to documents validly in our custody.

“We assure the Honourable court that we will liaise with the Petitioners and comply accordingly.”

Justice Saleeman then countered that even if the electoral umpire is unable to allow access to the relevant documents, it must state so and explain it in writing to be brought to the notice of the Tribunal.

Meantime, Useni has forwarded to the Tribunal a fresh tranche of nine certified documents. These are: copies of results from various polling units in Mangu, Bokkos and Jos East Local Government Areas.

Respondents’ Counsel has indicated that they will make their objections on the documents in their final address before the judgement of the tribunal.

Tribunal Chairman, Justice Saleeman, received and coded the exhibits accordingly: P44A – P50A.

The furore at FUOYE!

SIR: There’s been so much plate-throwing at the upstart university and it’s becoming a source of embarrassment to Ekiti State. A paradox of epic proportion it is, that – before our very eyes, in the Fountain of Knowledge, the acclaimed land of professors and academic griots – an ivory tower, is gradually slipping into disrepute and utter decay. Of course, this should be a source of concern to all.

The conflict had its genesis in a ‘harmless’ document, which the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cleverly explained away as ‘housekeeping’ manual to sanitize the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE. The local ASUU branch at the university   had prepared the document – a glimpse into how FUOYE was being administered – and forwarded same to the supervising Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. Between Oye-Ekiti and Abuja, the document turned out to be indicting. Sources informed it was critical of the vice chancellor who was promptly queried by the Minister of Education. And so, the battle line was drawn!

In an apparent edge of dislike for this sort of activism, the ‘constituted’ authorities at FUOYE responded in cold brewed rage, descending heavily on some lecturers and union officials of the local branch of the ubiquitous ASUU. Tales abound of unionists, being hauled before hurriedly-constituted panels–court-martial style; and of lecturers being blackmailed into   retracting ‘statement of facts’ and other reported   forms of intimidation, blackmail and high-handedness.

As we speak, many officials of the local branch of ASUU remain suspended from work without salary, with little prospects of returning to their jobs. Already, fringe unions within the university are bracing up for war in solidarity with ASUU. The hitherto serene academic environment has become toxic, polluted with claims and counterclaims, witch-hunting, intrigues, bickering and ‘small politics’ with immense potentials to stifle academic growth in the institution. It should not be!

Actions like these risk balkanizing the university community into narrow sects and tribal fiefdoms where feral gangs hold sway at the expense of scholarship. We do not wish for a cultist enclave   in the form of an academic campus on our hands in Ekiti. These tragedies, if they happen, would hurt Ekiti in no small measure. The very reason therefore Ekiti State government must refrain from sitting on the fence on this crisis but lend its voice to save the young university from the path of perfidy. It’s an awful lot easier to start a war than stop one.

Yes, FUOYE is a federal institution but federal interest in the crisis remains passive, unhelpful and indifferent   to the growing confrontation; appearing rather reluctant to choose sides. In the absence of Abuja intervening in the mode of a Visitation Panel for FUOYE, Ekiti People’s Mandate (EPM) hereby appeals to the Ekiti State government (EKSG) to move in and initiate some form of dispute resolutions. In an ideal world of rational diplomacy and thinking and by the antecedents of Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti is well placed to help in settling the crisis in FUOYE. After all, Ekiti remains the landlord to the university.

Our stake in FUOYE is high and always would remain so.  It’s raining in Oye. It’s time to get the umbrella out!

Terry Fade Adewale, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

FG expresses readiness to sign AfCFTA agreement

The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement in the forthcoming African Union Summit in Niamey, Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the ordinary and extraordinary session of the AU summit is scheduled to hold from July 4 to July 7.

The First Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU and the Regional Economic Communities is expected to hold on July 8.

According to the Presidency in its Twitter account @NGRPresident, Nigeria will be signing the AfCFTA agreement after extensive domestic consultations.

“Let me state unequivocally that trade is important for us as a nation and all nations. Economic progress is what makes the world go round.

“Nigeria is signing the #AfCFTA Agreement after extensive domestic consultations, and is focused on taking advantage of ongoing negotiations to secure the necessary safeguards against smuggling, dumping and other risks/threats,” it said.

It quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as saying in its twitter account @MBuhari “our position is very simple; we support free trade as long as it is fair and conducted on an equitable basis.

“Our vision for intra-African trade is for free movement of `made in Africa goods’. That is goods and services.”

The president said that if the AfCFTA succeeded, the Federal Government must develop policies that could promote African production among other benefits.

NAN recalls that on June 27, Buhari received the report on impact of the AfCFTA and Nigeria’s’ readiness for it.

The report of the committee which was inaugurated in October 2018 would form part of the consideration on the next step on the AfCFTA.

Nigeria, the largest economy on the continent is one of the countries that is yet to ratify the agreement.

The AfCFTA aims to eliminate tariffs among member states, create a market of 1.2 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 2.2 trillion dollars.

Apart from Nigeria, only Eritrea and Benin have chosen not to join the zone.

Buhari had expressed concern it could allow neighbouring countries to inundate Nigeria with low-priced goods, and frustrate efforts to encourage moribund local manufacturing and expand farming.