Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, has disclosed that he shares the same view with President Muhammadu Buhari that the insecurity bedeviling the nation was not a religious or tribal problem.
Bagudu stated this yesterday at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, when the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) headed by its President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, paid him a courtesy visit.
He recalled that President Buhari had said the regrettable problem of banditry should make Nigerians to come together and think differently.
The governor lamented how misconceptions about several issues in the country were causing unnecessary hiccups amongst the citizens.
He harped on the need for political leaders in the country to place more emphasis on revenue mobilisation rather than sharing.
The All Progressives Congress APC Governors’ Forum chairman further said: “President Buhari has instilled transparency and accountability in the management of the resources of the nation.
“These resources are still too inadequate and all the communities across Nigeria have remained largely underserved. That is why Nigerians will continue to get more angry at each other and it is better if we mobilise more resources to share.”
Bagudu described CAN as a very important body in the country, noting that, “ they can tell the world what our problems are.”
The governor appreciated the delegation for the visit, urging them to continue to pray for the country’s leaders.
CAN President, Ayokunle, had earlier told Bagudu that one of the reasons for the visit was to pray for greater wisdom for the leadership of Kebbi State so the people could reap more dividends of democracy.
“It is also to identify with the North West as regards the banditry ravaging the area that was hitherto peaceful.
“We are also here to commend Gov. Bagudu for ensuring a balanced government between all the religious groups in the state.
“If all governors are like Bagudu, there will be no problems and hiccups in the country.
“It should be live and let others live and we are commending the governor for giving Christians a face and a sense of belonging in the state,” Ayokunle said.
Pero Adeniyi, baby mama to popular Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba has broken the silence concerning her involvement in the drama in the singer’s family.
In September, 2Baba’s wife, Annie Idiba, took to Instagram to call out her husband for alleged infidelity involving Adeniyi.
In a now-deleted post, the actress wrote, “What kind of man takes his kids to Disney and spends nights in the same apartment with his kids and their mother! How many times have you gone to see your kids with Pero and she stays with you and the kids under the same roof for nights?”
Her posts led to a reply from the singer’s brother which further broke into a war of words between Annie’s family, and her in-laws.
The 43-year-old Pero stayed silent for most of the ruckus, only once taking time to warn off trolls on her page.
The mother-of-four, however, took to Instagram on Saturday to break her silence on the matter.
The US-based make up artiste, who recently returned to Nigeria, said she had decided to keep silent so as to guard her own version of the truth.
She said, “You are asking me to speak, if I told you my truth, would you believe? Would you not poke holes in it? My truth is special to me, those that know me know the truth, that is all that matters.
“I will continue to guard it. Even the liar that started this madness knows the truth but needs the lie for relevance. Very soon, the truth will be out for all to see clearly, without a doubt, no one is invincible, so please continue to enjoy the lies for anyway.”
Pero, who had three children for 2Baba, also said she will continue to remain unbothered even with the constant insults and dragging.
“Insults and dragging are yet to kill a person, no be today Una don dey comment una rubbish, continue to drag like small gen, when hand pain una, Una go stop. #unbothered,” she said in pidgin.
The National Economic Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that persons recruited into arms-bearing agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before and after enlistment.
NEC said the evaluations would ensure that the personnel were psychologically fit to carry weapons and identify behavioural tendencies that might require psycho-social interventions.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘NEC: States, FG to pay compensation to victims of #EndSARS protests and prosecute those indicted’.
The council also urged personnel of the agencies to dutifully observe the rules of engagement in the discharge of their duties.
It said police accountability was being strengthened through the Police Service Commission, improved funding and budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police Force and other securities agencies, as well as the lifting of the ban on recruitment of police officers.
It, therefore, urged the Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of policemen and personnel of other security agencies.
It also advocated a review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and equal remuneration for police officers and other security agents; a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they were fit for purpose; and deployment of cutting-edge technology by the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in the fight against crimes.
The council equally called on the police to prioritise training of personnel in human rights provisions guaranteed by the constitution and in the professional handling of weapons.
It said, “All those detained by the police as a result of the #EndSARS protests should be expeditiously processed with due regard to the principles of fair hearing. The system established within the Nigeria Police Force for receipt and handling of complaints or petitions is strengthened, and all police officers on duty should be in police-approved uniform with their full names and force numbers boldly written for easy identification.”
It would take more than political sagacity and understanding of political arithmetic to predict the outcome of the forthcoming Anambra State gubernatorial polls, which comes up in three weeks’ time.
Careful observation shows that forces at play are adopting curious strategies, even as some shadowy non-state actors raise apprehension that the ballot might not hold.
As the big parties deploy their strengths, one big question on the lips of watchers of the build-up to the November 6, 2021 ballot, is whether the Anambra electorate has a mind of their own and are able to make independent choices.
The changing times have elicited changing approach by the contending parties. From offshore campaigns to ‘snatching’ of political actors from opposing platforms, the perceived elephantine candidates are currently entangled in serious battles. They are raking muck and splashing it on their rivals.
As attacks and counter-attacks by the frontline candidates continue, especially against the background of operations of the so-called ‘unknown gunmen,’ suggestion for a slight postponement of the election date was mooted during a recent meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja.
The fact that most of the parties, aside the incumbent All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), are yet to flag off their electioneering campaign, barely three weeks to the election, adds to the sense of despondency in the state.
But for the insistence of other stakeholders, the suggestion for the postponement of the governorship by at least two weeks would have been considered by INEC during an emergency meeting with IPAC.
It was gathered that the National Chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, had, after explaining the implications of the orgy of violence and unexplained killings in the state on voter turn out, pleaded with INEC to consider a slight shift in date to sit out the return of normalcy.
But the YPP and other parties were said to have mounted vigorous arguments in opposition to the suggested postponement, stressing that the election should be allowed to go on so as not to provide room for a constitutional impasse.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, after commiserating with the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Obiora Agbasimelo, who was kidnapped, disclosed how he personally engaged the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force for urgent and further intervention.
Yakubu, however, observed the sloppy approach by the parties to the election, even as he lamented that only five political parties had uploaded particulars of their voting agents as of Friday, October 8, 2021.
He urged the remaining 13 political parties that were yet to comply with the commission’s guidelines to endeavour to upload the required details in the next two weeks, as stipulated in the commission’s guideline for the Anambra State Governorship Election.
Yakubu warned that failure by any party to upload the details of the voting agents on the commission’s portal would entail the disqualification of the party’s agents from participating in the voting process.
The INEC chairman, who briefed the party leaders on his commission’s preparedness to conduct the election as well as security concerns, commended the party leaders for finding time to attend the emergency meeting at short notice.
IPAC chairman, Dr. Leonard Nzenwa, who responded on behalf of other members, thanked the INEC chairman for the commission’s assurances and readiness to go ahead with the Anambra governorship poll.
He said it was gratifying to note that INEC was determined to employ biometric verification of voters, alongside the electronic transmission of results, but threatened that his party, African Action Congress (AAC), could only continue participating in the election if the security of life was guaranteed in Anambra State.
Vagabond Forces
MANY Anambra citizens believe that forces both from within and outside the state were very much engaged in the search for Governor Willie Obiano’s successor. Being a very strategic state in the Southeast, Anambra is seen as being key to the overall voter behaviour of the zone in 2023. Where the Federal Government stands remains a recurring question in the state as various implements and strategies of power are being furled here and there.
A former President of Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, told The Guardian that “one needs to see what plays out in Enugu State Congress today, to predict how Anambra will go.”
In Enugu State, there was a sudden crossover of politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, in a manner similar to what continues to play out in Anambra, which culminated in the defection of Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, from APGA to the governing party.
Based on the volume and networth of defectors from APGA and PDP to APC ever since Senator Andy Uba emerged the party’s standard-bearer, amid controversies over the governorship primary, political actors have been wondering in muffled tones where the federal might stands. Could it be that the Federal Government is favouring APC against APGA or that Governor Obiano is involved in an intricate web of conspiracy to either sacrifice Prof. Chukwuma Soludo or undermine Uba’s candidacy?
While the power play among the incumbents continue, APC supporters were thrown into confusion when Uba was dragged to court over the school certificate he uploaded on his nomination form to INEC for the election.
Joined in the suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/1211/2021, filed on October 8, 2021 at Federal High Court, Abuja, as respondents are APC, INEC and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The plaintiff/applicants in the suit averred in the affidavit in support of their claims that the Form EC9 submitted by the APC and Uba (1st and 2nd respondents) to the 3rd respondent (INEC) was riddled with false information.
“The Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 Statement of Result purportedly issued by Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State, under the Enugu State School System and allegedly bearing the name of Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi with Candidate Number 05465/089, is false.
“For instance, in 1974 when Uba left secondary school, the WAEC (4th respondent) did not conduct Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), ‘but only commenced the conduct of Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) sometimes in 1988 under the 6-3-3-4 System of Education adopted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ the affidavit in support of the Originating Summons stated.
The plaintiff/applicant also argued that WAEC conducted General Certificate of Education (GCE) in May/June 1974 up to 1978, stressing that those facts were at variance with the Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 Statement of Result purportedly issued by Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State under the Enugu State School System that was allegedly submitted by Ubah.
Picking further holes on the school certificate, the applicants pointed out that whilst Uba falsely claimed that the examination was conducted under the Enugu State school system in 1974, Enugu State was created in 1991.
They added: “Enugu State was not yet created in 1974 when the 2nd Respondent (Uba) left secondary school, but was created in August 1991. The purported Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 Statement of Result purportedly issued by Union Secondary School Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State under the Enugu State School System and allegedly submitted by Uba to INEC in Form EC9 as qualifying him to contest the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election is false.”
The plaintiff/applicant, who is a political party taking part in the November 6 poll, therefore prayed the court to determine whether WAEC (4th respondent) or any other examination body conducted Senior School Certificate Examination in May/June 1974 at Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria for Uba with Examination Candidate Number 05465/089, as envisaged by Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Section 3195) & (6) of the amended Electoral Act, 2011.
Also, the plaintiff prayed the court to determine “whether the 4th Respondent (WAEC) through Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State under the Enugu State School System, validly issued a Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 to Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi with candidate number 05465/089.”
They also beseeched the court to declare as follows: “That the Senior School Certificate Examination, May/June 1974 Statement of Result allegedly issued by WAEC through Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State to Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi with candidate number 05465/089 submitted by the 1st and 2nd Respondents to the 3rd Respondent for the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election is false.
“A declaration that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) did not conduct Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in May/June 1974, but conducted the General Certificate of Education (GCE) in May/June 1974.”
While asking the court for an order disqualifying Uba from contesting the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election for allegedly giving false information to INEC, the party further sought a declaration that the 1st and 2nd Respondent’s act of allegedly “submitting to the 3rd Respondent, a Senior School Certificate Examination, May/June 1974 Statement of Result purportedly issued by the 4th Respondent through Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State to Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi …constitutes giving false information to the 3rd Respondent and a breach of Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended as well as Section 31(6) of the Electoral Act as amended.”
Despite the unceasing celebration of Uba’s political prowess that has enabled the cross over of many elected and prominent political stakeholders to APC, the loud of silence by the members of the federal cabinet accentuates the suspense surrounding the preparedness of APC to win the November 6 poll.
Obiano’s Soludo Project
THE moment INEC released its guidelines for the Anambra State governorship ballot, pundits expressed the belief that the election was easily Prof. Soludo’s to lose, given that Governor Obiano did not leave anyone in doubt that the former CBN governor was his preferred candidate.
But clouds of doubt began to gather around the feasibility of the governor’s project, when his wife, Osodieme Ebele Obiano, was said not to be favourably disposed to having the former top banker succeed her husband.
Names, including that of Chief Stanley Uzokwu, were bandied as the possible alternative being pushed by Mrs Obiano to fly the APGA flag. However, as aspirants purchased nomination forms and Stanley’s name was not among them, it was believed that fakery attended the postulations.
But matters took a turn for the worse when after the APGA governorship primary, a certain Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji emerged as a rival candidate from a splinter faction, which announced not only the suspension of Soludo but also the dissolution of the APGA Board of Trustees (BoT).
Although many, particularly Ozonkpu Victor Oye, dismissed the Umeoji antics as a storm in the teacup, the party hierarchy and Governor Obiano became apprehensive when the straying Umeoji travelled to Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State and resurfaced in Maitama office of INEC with a State High Court judgment declaring him the validly nominated candidate as well as an order mandating the commission to recognise Umeoji as the APGA governorship candidate.
As Umeoji generated headlines with his giant killer profile, information began to circulate, disclosing that Governor Obiano entered into a deal with APC and Presidency’s political playmakers in 2017. Part of the deal was said to be the effect that the governor would not try to implant a successor if he was supported to win a second term.
Yet, even as the claims continue to make the rounds, sources disclosed that after a huge contribution to President Buhari’s second term in 2019, Governor Obiano struck a strong bond of friendship with the President.
To add to the perceived newfound love by Obiano with the Presidency, Soludo was appointed into the President’s economic advisory team, which was also said to have been enhanced by the demise of the former Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
With all the news flying about the purported understanding with Obiano, the appeal by Umeoji against the Court of Appeal ruling that quashed his listing by INEC and upheld Soludo’s nomination raised fresh apprehensions that danger was not yet averted.
To compound matters, at the height of high profile killings in Anambra State, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, told state House Correspondents that the Federal Government would not mind considering a state of emergency in the state to protect democratic order.
Obiano’s supporters went to town with the narrative that the APC administration wants to capture Anambra State by fire and fury, even as a chieftain of APC, Osita Okechukwu, used the opportunity of the verbal exchanges between Anambra State government and Malami to remind APGA to explore the possibility of fusing into APC.
Stung by the ominous implications of a state of emergency on his determined effort to deliver Soludo as his successor, Obiano rushed to the Presidential Villa, where after conferring with President Buhari, he announced with relief that nothing of such was on the cards.
The ease with which the governor secured an audience with President Buhari threw up fresh suggestions that he (Obiano) might be in a buxom political relationship regarding the Anambra State governorship.
To push the narrative in his favour further, the Supreme Court dismissed Umeoji’s appeal and affirmed Soludo’s candidacy, even as the court warned politicians to desist from forum shopping, an observation some commentators saw as an indirect rebuke of APC chieftains funding Umeoji’s legal theatrics.
However, the apex court ruling did not shut all windows to the existing disputation with APGA, because the matter between Ozonkpu Victor Oye and Chief Edozie Njoku, whom Jude Okeke faction claimed was suspended from office as the authentic national chairman of the party, was left hanging.
Both Oye and Njoku factions celebrated the judgment of the Supreme Court, ascribing same to victory for their cause and vindication for their belief that truth would prevail.
In fact, despite last Thursday’s judgment of the Supreme Court, three different factions of the party are still laying claim to its leadership. While the Oye faction has been savouring the judgment, the Jude Okeke faction remains resolute on installing Umeoji as governor, while the Edozie Njoku was still routing for Nicholas Ukachukwu’s candidature.
Each of the factions, The Guardian gathered, was not hiding its intention to work against APGA in the forthcoming election if it eventually schemed out.
As such, just like the Oye faction, both the Okeke and Njoku factions were also happy with the judgment of the apex court.
Reacting to the judgment, the factional National Publicity Secretary of Okeke-led APGA, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, argued that the Supreme Court did not nullify Okeke’s chairmanship position. “What the Supreme Court nullified was the judgment of the Kano Court of Appeal on the basis that issues of political party leadership tussle is non-justiciable,” he said.
He noted that the said Kano Court of Appeal did not make Okeke chairman, stressing that the Supreme Court did not nullify the NEC meeting decision that appointed him (Okeke) as the chairman of APGA.
“The Supreme Court declared that issues of political party squabbles are non-justiciable hence did not declare Victor Oye as Chairman of APGA and neither did the Court of Appeal, Kano Division.
“The Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Rabiu Aliyu has conceded to the chairmanship of the party of Chief Jude Okeke in line with the decision of the Supreme Court that internal party squabbles of political parties are non-justiciable and can only be resolved by political parties.
“The removal of Edozie Njoku from office by NEC of our party still remains valid as this issue of his removal was never decided by the court and still remains unchallenged,” Chukwunyere said.
Similarly, the camp of Njoku, which was joined by the Supreme Court as an interested party, contended that Njoku remains the authentic national chairman of APGA since the Jigawa State High Court judgment, which declared Okeke as the national chairman, but which the Supreme Court dismissed, was about a case instituted against his faction rather than Oye.
According to Njoku, Oye was not a party to the judgment of the Jigawa State High court, arguing that Okeke sued him and got an order removing him as the national chairman of APGA and went to Jigawa State High court to legalise his action, stressing that the Supreme Court verdict has vindicated him.
He disclosed that with the present position, the Justice A.R. Mohammed-led Federal High Court Abuja, which was mandated to conclude his application for the Order of Mandamus against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking to recognise him as the authentic national chairman could now move ahead and conclude the matter.
Edozie said the judge made it clear to the parties to return to the status quo, an interpretation he contended places him as the authentic national chairman, pending the completion of action compelling INEC to recognise him.
The confusion generated by the claims and counter-claims by the three factions has turned ADC into a beautiful bride, as there were indications that the three factions of APGA were good to go with ADC on agreed terms.
The earlier pronouncement by INEC that it did not recognise the emergence of Soludo candidacy was said to have pushed the leadership of APGA into adopting a ‘Plan B’, which was to support the ADC candidate, Akachukwu Nwankpo.
A chieftain of APGA in the state, who did not want his name mentioned, confirmed that talks were ongoing between a faction APGA and ADC, stressing that the only grey area between the two parties was that APGA wants 60:40 ratio formula while ADC insists on 50:50 equitable share of appointive and elective positions.
The impeccable source contended: “APGA appears to want to redeem its image by associating with ADC, a party formed and sponsored by the former APGA founder, Chief Ralphs OkeyNwosu, who was seemingly robbed in the 2002 governorship primary won by the new entrant, Peter Obi, who eventually became the governor.
“Nwosu has not been compensated, awarded a contract or given party patronage as one of the founders and major sponsor of APGA from the onset. Obiano was foisted on APGA; so he does not know the antecedents of APGA and the party’s benefactors.
“These wrongs meted to Nwosu and Akankpo appear to be weighing or holding APGA down which sees the ADC as part of its cleansing.
PDP’s Offshore Campaign
SHRUGGING off the loss of some of its elected representatives to APC, PDP took its campaign to Asaba, Delta State, where Anambra indigenes resident there endorsed its standard-bearer, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo. Ozigbo used the opportunity to declare his plans to explore bilateral cooperation between Delta and Anambra if elected governor.
The PDP governorship hopeful, who participated in a successful town hall event hosted by a support group, Friends of Val Ozigbo, in the Delta State capital, noted that Anambra and Delta States are dependent on each other for economic reasons, assuring that he would expand bilateral relations to maximise their economic potential.
In a statement by Aziza Uko, Media Aide to Ozigbo, said the event, which was held at Crescendo Events Centre, had over 600 in attendance, including dignitaries like a federal lawmaker, Hon Obinna Chidoka; a former deputy governorship candidate in Anambra, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe; and several directors in the State PDP Campaign Council for 2021.
While endorsing Ozigbo, the Chairman of the Igbo Forum in Asaba, Chief Chinedu Obodo, said that Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, had excelled everywhere he worked and is best positioned to replicate the same in Anambra State.
Chief Obodo was quoted as saying, “We singled out Valentine Ozigbo from other candidates because we need a new Anambra and the PDP candidate has shown enough to provide it.
“This election provides us with the opportunity to tell ourselves the bitter truth that we need somebody with proven integrity to lead us to the Promised Land, and that person is Mr Valentine Ozigbo.
“The welfare of Igbo people lies in Anambra State. If Anambra gets it right, Igboland will experience transformation. Ndi Igbo in Delta State wants Ozigbo to take over the helm of affairs because his Ka Anambra Chawapu Manifesto has the keys to unlock the potentials of the state.”
PDP has been struck by defections of some party big wigs immediately after the party’s primary, starting with the current ZLP flagbearer, Okonkwo, federal lawmakers like Senator Stella Oduah, Chris Azubogu among others.
Some eminent members of the party had mooted the idea of reaching out to the ZLP candidate to see how the PDP traditional voting bloc could be preserve, even as others expressed reservations that such a move would bear positive fruits three weeks to the election.
Violence, Finger Pointing
Obiano caused a stir when he absented the Southeast Governors’ Forum meeting with the region’s religious and political stakeholders over the deteriorating security situation in the zone, especially in Anambra State.
The governor accused an unnamed state governor of fuelling the insecurity in Anambra State, alleging that those sponsoring the killings were doing so in an effort to snatch the state. Obiano further declared that he did not want to sit at a table or in the same room with those who were causing a crisis in his state.
Many who heard him claimed that the Anambra governor’s accusing fingers were trained towards his southern neighbour that belongs to APC, just as the APC governorship standard bearer, Uba, accused the governor of ineptitude, alleging that the situation simply overwhelmed the capacity of the governor to govern.
Joining the fray, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), tasked APC and APGA to come clean on the issue of who was sponsoring the pockets of violence and killings.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Afam Dozie Ofomata, the ZLP Campaign Council noted that “after a critical review of the rising insecurity situation in Anambra State, (we) demand that the embattled APGA and APC should come clean on their roles on the upsurge of violence ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
“The ZLP notes that intelligence, even in the public space, places a burden on APGA and APC, as political parties, to speak up regarding their alleged connections with the wave of attacks ahead of polls.”
ZLP stated that being in control of the apparatus of power at the state and federal levels, APGA and APC “bear the onus to explain their roles in the dire situation in the state, particularly since it became clear that the electoral tide is not flowing in their favour.
“It is obvious that APGA and APC are unsettled with uncompromising consensus by NdiAnambra to elect the ZLP candidate, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, whose popularity has continued to soar as the coalition flag bearer for the November election, given his practical credentials to rescue the state from the current misrule of APGA.”
Count Us Out
Against the backdrop of insinuations that it held a clandestine meeting with the APC standard bearer to create fear and panic so as to elicit wide-scale voter apathy, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said it has no business with politicians.
IPOB, while denying reports that it was working cahoots with the candidate of APC, Senator Andy Uba, to tilt the balance of power in favour of the party, flatly denied any such arrangement.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB declared: “We have no interest in Anambra State governorship election. We didn’t have any discussion with Andy Uba on the Anambra election.
“Andy Uba and his likes should leave IPOB out of their politics. Again, Andy Uba could not have possibly accessed the leadership of IPOB. He should therefore stop using IPOB to get cheap popularity.”
With the spate of things in Anambra State, it is not possible to gauge the mood of voters regarding the direction of their preferred candidates, but it is apparent that unless wise counsel prevails, the election if it holds, will return a winner by a very narrow margin and scant voter turnout.
The religious adherence of the people to the stay at home order by IPOB points to the possibility that no election mantra may scare away potential voters. That reality must have informed Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s call on the authorities to review the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is due to appear in court on October 21, 2021, exactly two weeks to the poll.
A 17-year-old Senior Secondary School 2 pupil of a secondary school in the Itokin area of Ogun State, Habeeb Adeosun, has lost his life after allegedly engaging in a fight with his classmate and friend identified only as Ayo.
It was learnt that Adeosun slumped during an altercation with Ayo, 16, while they were in the class on Monday and died a few hours later in a hospital where he was rushed to.
We gathered two accounts on the cause of the disagreement between the duo. While the deceased’s family said Ayo confronted Adeosun for stepping on the toes of his (Ayo’s) girlfriend inside the class, Ayo said they were struggling over a bag.
The teenager reportedly ran away after Adeosun slumped but was later arrested on Tuesday by a team from the Agbado Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kuranga Yero.
A relative of Ayo identified simply as Ewenje said the deceased’s parents had gone to work on Monday afternoon when the incident occurred.
He said, “We were at home when someone rushed to tell us that a pupil punched Habeeb (Adeosun) on the chest and he slumped. We learnt he had been rushed to a hospital. We reported at the police station and some policemen followed us to the school. Some pupils who witnessed the incident said the boy confronted Habeeb for stepping on his (Ayo’s) girlfriend. He ran away when he saw that Habeeb could not stand up.”
Ewenje said some angry youths mobilised to the school the following day blaming the authourities for allegedly allowing Ayo to escape. He said it took the police intervention to restore normalcy to the area.
He said, “People were running helter-skelter. The school was eventually shut. The family didn’t know about the attack. We have accepted what happened in good faith and buried him according to Islamic rites. Police said they wanted to carry out an investigation but we insisted we could not delay his burial.
“We are not interested in the case. Some pupils claimed that he hit Habeeb with a charmed ring. If he actually did, God will reward him accordingly. Habeeb was 17 years old and he just completed his Quranic study.”
But Ayo, who is police custody, said Habeeb was dragging his bag with him when a fight broke out. He claimed that the deceased first hit him on the chest and he returned the punch, which felled Habeeb.
He said, “I am 16-year-old. I live at Abule Ijoko and attend Itokin Community High School. Habeeb and I were both in the same class. That day, he came to my seat and took my bag. I asked him to return my bag but he refused. I thought he was playing with me. As we were dragging the bag with each other, he hit me on the chest. I returned mine and he fell.
“I thought he was joking. Our classmates poured water on him and rushed to call teachers. The attendants at the school clinic came to check him but he didn’t respond. They then rushed him to the hospital.
“I didn’t hit him with any ring. We were friends and we used to play with each other. I didn’t run away. It was our teachers who asked someone to take me away because some thugs were threatening to kill me. I was crying when I learnt he had died.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation had commenced.
A source at the state police command told reporters that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Eleweran, for further investigation.
The source said, “The suspect and the victim were classmates. They had a disagreement in the classroom which resulted in a fight. He (Ayo) reportedly hit the boy with a ring said to be diabolical. The victim slumped and died afterwards. Investigation is ongoing.”
Conservative British lawmaker, David Amess, was killed on Friday after being stabbed “multiple times” during an event in his local constituency in southeast England, in the second death of a UK politician while meeting voters since 2016.
Local police did not name Amess but said a man had been arrested “on suspicion (of) murder” after the stabbing in Leigh-on-Sea.
“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident,” said Essex police, adding that the man in custody was aged 25, and a knife was recovered.
The force said officers had earlier responded to “reports of a stabbing” shortly after 12:05 pm (1105 GMT).
British media, including Sky News and the BBC, identified the victim as the 69-year-old politician from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps called Amess “a dedicated, thoughtful man and a true Parliamentarian, who lost his life while serving the constituents who he worked relentlessly for throughout his career”.
Amess is the latest British MPs to have been attacked at his weekly constituency “surgery” with voters, which are typically held on Fridays when parliament is not sitting.
Pro-EU lawmaker Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016 in the run-up to the Brexit referendum.
The Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up in her memory, tweeted that it was “horrified to hear the news of the attack” on Amess.
“We are thinking of him, his family and loved ones at this distressing time,” it added.
Cox’s widower Brendan described the stabbing of Amess was “as cowardly as it gets”.
“Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself. There is no excuse, no justification.”
Another Labour MP, Stephen Timms, was stabbed multiple times during an event in 2010, but recovered from “potentially life-threatening injuries” and is still an MP.
Timms said he was “appalled” at the latest attack.
In January 2000, Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was injured and his assistant killed by a man wielding a ceremonial sword at a constituency surgery in Cheltenham, western England.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith expressed concern about the security risk of the local MP “surgeries”.
“When you’re not in your office, and you’re in a public place… that means essentially, that the levels of security that sometimes you’re advised to take can’t be taken,” he tweeted.
Amess, a lawmaker since 1983, had advertised his upcoming surgery at the Belfairs Methodist Church in the small town of Leigh-on-Sea.
Paul Gardiner, 41, a barber at One Barbers Leigh-On-Sea, told AFP that “armed police and an ambulance” were on the scene.
“There’s a couple of choppers around the place,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from Johnson, who was leading an away-day for senior ministers in the west of England.
But his wife Carrie, a former Conservative head of communications, tweeted: “Absolutely devastating news about Sir David Amess.
“He was hugely kind and good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent. This is so completely unjust. Thoughts are with his wife and their children.”
David Cameron, one of his Tory predecessors in Downing Street, said: “Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family.”
Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer called the news “horrific and deeply shocking”.
An eye-witness, identified only as Anthony, told radio station LBC that the scene was “completely and utterly swamped by police, ambulance, armed police.
“I saw someone get taken out the building, put into the back of a police car. Apparently he was stabbed quite a few times.”
Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, has reaffirmed his intentions to run for Nigerian Presidency in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
He made this known in a post via his verified Facebook page on Friday, in response to a statement by fast-rising Nigerian Disk Jockey, DJ Big N.
The DJ had written, “What is going on? 14 months to yet another election and the youths still haven’t come forward with a representative. If the older politicians are proactive and already have candidates, then we need not complain with what we end up with. Wake up Nigeria. Wake up.” (sic)
In response, Edochie said, “My dear brother @djbign I saw your post this morning about the youths not presenting a candidate yet.
“Thank you so much for your concern. My name is Yul Edochie and I’m running for President of Nigeria in 2023. I declared my interest months ago.
“I humbly ask for your support. I believe that by posting me on your page, putting in a few words and supporting us through every other means at your disposal, our movement will gain more momentum, and certainly many others will join.
“Victory awaits us. Thank you brother. God bless you. God bless Nigeria.”
Edochie earlier declared his intention to run for presidency in May 2021, where he vowed to “wipe the tears of the masses and establish real peace, unity, and progress.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has concluded plans to start dismantling some telecommunication masts belonging to Globacom Ltd, a Global Sattelite Mobile (GSM) telecommunications provider, in various locations across the country over failure to pay N5.9billion renewal fees for height clearance to the agency.
The development followed a directive from the Nigerian government to some of its agencies and parastatals to go after debtors and defaulters and recover all the outstanding for the government.
It was learnt that the matter came to a head following exchange of correspondence between Globacom and NCAA and scheduled meetings designed to ensure payment of the said accumulated fees by the telecommunication network which failed.
In a letter dated October 4, 2021, titled: “Re: Illegal Erection of High Structures and Refusal to Renew Expired Aviation Height Clearance Certificates by Globacom Limited” and addressed to the Managing Director, Globacom, obtained by SaharaReporters, it was affirmed that following the failure by Globacom to pay the the required fees amounting to N5.9 billion, the regulatory agency had no choice but to commence the dismantling of the its masts across the country.
“In the circumstance, having exhausted all avenues for a resolution of this matter, we are now left without choice but to apply the relevant sanctions, including the dismantling of all your non-compliant masts nationwide. And this shall be without further notice to you”, it said.
The letter signed by Legal Adviser/Head, Compliance and Enforcement, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, recalled that, “The meeting to discuss the above subject-matter, was fixed for September 23, 2021, at your instance.
“You may wish to recall that you had on August, 25, 2021, requested that the meeting, earlier rescheduled, at your instance, from Monday, July 26, 2021 to Thursday, August 26, 2021, be further rescheduled to Thursday, September 23, 2021, to enable your Chief Operating Officer/COO to attend.
“It is unfortunate that despite our concurrence to a further rescheduling of the meeting to the requested date, and so informing you through our letter of 13th September, 2021, you failed to turn up for the meeting”, it said.
The letter noted that the Director-General of the NCAA had to abort an official assignment in Europe and return to Nigeria in order to be able to attend the meeting.
“Globacom only wrote the letter under reference three days after, asking that the meeting be rescheduled, without any explanation for the failure of any management staff to show up.
“I am directed to inform you that the NCAA is not disposed to granting this latest (fourth) request to reschedule the meeting, particularly, as no reason was given for your non-attendance on the last date.
“In the circumstance, having exhausted all avenues for a resolution of this matter, we are now left without choice but to apply the relevant sanctions including the dismantling of all your non-compliant masts nationwide. And this shall be without further notice to you”, it said.
In an earlier communication with Globacom, NCAA listed the indebtedness of globacom to include application fee for 2006 to 2007 at N100,000 per mast, totalling N689,800,000, annual renewal fee for 2007-2022 (15years), N50,000 per mast amounting to N6,898 and inspection fee covering N6,898 masts across the nation all totalling N6,064,230,000.
SaharaReporters learnt that Globacom paid the sum of N100million on July 31, 2019 and had not made any further payment.
An earlier letter from NCCA to Global said total application fee for the period under review stood at N604,800,000 while cost of inspection amounted to N190,930,000.
The letter also stated the position of NCAA in law with regards to regulation of masts.
“Please be reminded that Section 30(3)() of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 empowers the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by law to prohibit and regulate the installation of any structure (including telecommunication mast), which by virtue of its ‘height or position is considered to endanger the safety of air navigation,” it said.
This is coming two years after the agency asked Globacom and other Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators to remove their over 7, 000 masts or risk seeing them demolished.
NCAA had claimed the masts, erected at different locations within the country close to the nation’s airports, are obstructing flight safety and could cause accidents if not removed.
Football great – Pele – said on Thursday he is feeling “better” and joked that he can’t wait to get back to playing the beautiful game, just two weeks after leaving hospital following surgery on a colon tumor.
The 80-year-old spent a month in a Sao Paulo hospital recovering from his operation, while also receiving chemotherapy.
“Thanks to God, I’m better, I’m even ready to play on Sunday,” he joked.
“In all seriousness, thank you for everything, thank you to everyone that has sent me hugs and given me strength,” he added in a video message published on the Instagram accounts of two of his children.
He underwent surgery on September 4 after a routine check-up had detected the suspicious looking tumor.
The results of his biopsy have not been made public and neither the player, his family, nor the medical center where he received treatment have commented on whether the tumor was cancerous, although chemotherapy is typically used to treat cancer.
Pele, who turns 81 in just over a week, is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
A former striker, he scored more than 1,000 goals during his career, which is officially recognized as a record.
He is the only player in history to have won the World Cup three times and also coined the phrase: “the beautiful game” to describe football.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that he (Kanu) enjoined IPOB followers to proceed on a fast ahead of his trial on October 21.
Ejiofor in an update obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday added that Kanu and the legal team were confident of victory and no excuses would be tolerated from the Department of State Services.
The lawyer also debunked different rumour including that Kanu had been flown by the Nigerian government to China and Israel.
Ejiofor noted that Kanu was strong and ready to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21.
The IPOB leader’s lawyer said, “As the D-Day approaches, the legal team is not leaving any stone unturned towards ensuring that all the “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” dotted.
“It was indeed an eventful visit as our indefatigable Client found as laughable, the series of false narratives being spread to the public domain, ostensibly sponsored by the agents of darkness who are very deep in their dream to prevent his appearance in court, and to create a state of panic in the minds of his followers.
“Prominent among the falsehood desperately championed by mischief makers is the trending subject that our dear Client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been flown to China, and from China to Israel, and from Israel to Kontokatafi etc. We know the purveyors of these fake news and they are aware that their evil conspiracies are dead on arrival.
“Onyendu was equally amazed by another fake news that was making headline in some social media quarters, that he was asked to sign any document before regaining his freedom. This is total falsehood and he is urging his esteemed followers to please ignore this falsehood.
“Above all, our indefatigable Client is strong and tenaciously holding firm in spirit. He is ready for the 21st October 2021 appearance in court. This date is sacrosanct and shall remain so.
“Thankfully, the Federal Government of Nigeria is fully aware of this date, and more compelling is the fact that the detaining authority has since over a month ago, concluded every purported investigation into the matter. Hence, no plausible excuse will be available to them not to produce Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in court come Thursday, the 21st Day of October 2021. You must all see him live and direct on this date.
“Our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu urges millions of his followers and supporters to continue to conduct themselves and carry on within the ambit of the laws, as you all have always done. More strikingly and commendable is the fact that your solidarity has remained unshaken against all intimidating circumstance, and for this, he is deeply grateful.
“Onyendu advised his supporters and millions of followers to go into dry fasting as the D-Day approaches, because resounding victory will be ours on this date and the Almighty Chukwuokike Abiama will be given the glory and adoration in the end.”
