Nigerian Politics – Advent Cable Network Nigeria

BREAKING: Court Bars Akeredolu From Investigating Chief Judge

ACNN ADMIN — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 12:20:06 +0000

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday barred the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu from investigating the Chief Judge of the state over a viral video made by a citizen of the state, Olupelumi Fagboyegun.

The Ondo State Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, had sued the Governor, the Attorney General of Ondo State and the House of Assembly seeking to stop them from proceeding with the planned probe, and equally bar the AGF, NJC and the IGP from acting on any report submitted to them by the Ondo State government pending the determination of the main suit.

Recall that Justice Ekwo had, on February 25, 2021 restrained the governor and all the defendants from taking any further steps in relation to the alleged probe of the state chief judge over the viral video.

The judge gave the order in a ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Justice Akeredolu.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Agunloye, Na’abba, Utomi, Ezekwesili, Others Regroup

ACNN ADMIN — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 11:46:38 +0000

Concerned political leaders drawn across various political parties under the aegis of National Consultative Fronts (NCF) on Tuesday called on all former presidents, heads of states, National Assembly presiding officers to convene with the view to save Nigeria from anarchy and unwanted civil war as well as to direct the country’s endowments toward erecting a truly prosperous and harmonious nation.

The group also urged all political parties, politicians and political support groups to suspend forthwith all campaigns and ambitions for 2023 elections should for now take the backstage, as well as all political activities that are not geared towards stemming the tide of insecurity and moving the country to normalcy.

The clarion call was contained in a communiqué read by its leader, Dr Olu Agunloye, after the emergency national intervention meeting of leaders of conscience in Nigeria held in Abuja, which was jointly signed by former Speaker of the 5th session of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’abba; Prof. Pat Utomi and Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed.

Other stakeholders who attended the high-powered meeting include former presidential candidates, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu and Oby Ezekwesili; Okey Nwosu, Buba Galadima, former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; Nagatu Mohammed, Senator Grace Bent, among others.

The group also urged all government agencies and functionaries and politicians to shelve all political activities towards 2023 election preparations and timelines, noting that the socio-political landscape has been fast deteriorating and the spirit of sectionalism has spread across Nigeria coupled with internal revolts and separationism have reached an advanced stage.

While calling for urgent need to facilitate a credible alternative peoples’ movement capable of saving and rescuing Nigeria from insensitive and self-serving politicians, they canvassed that all power politics of 2023 should be downplayed to focus the effective mobilization of Nigerians towards national cohesion and stability through a popular process of national consultations capable of facilitating new people’s constitution.

While expressing grave concern over the “fragile state of Nigeria,” Dr Agunloye explained that the group convened to review the current Nigerian situation with intention of creating hope and strategies for restoring sanity, harmony, and stability to our country to halt the slide into dangers of anarchy and civil war.

According to him, members of the Front also reached a “consensus that Nigeria has manifested inability of the government to protect the citizens or prevent pervasive scale violence and emergent insurgencies. The country is confronted with multiple internal insurrections, ethnic divisions and strife, and separationist agitations in all the six geopolitical zones of the country.”

They also underscored the need for amendment of the current Electoral Act which they described as “critical and crucial to foster just and justiciable democratic process and to create faith and trust in the leadership.

“The initiative will pursue popular democratic constitutional resetting and remaking of Nigeria to give the country a new popular constitutional template that will provide the Nigeria peoples with a new political structure and national legal framework that can essentially make politics less violent and less corruptible but service-oriented and values-driven for mass prosperity.”

In the bid to save Nigeria, they resolved to “fight for the independence of the judiciary and legislature for the Executive arm especially the governors can confine selves to basic functions and all arms can do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

“That to save Nigeria, we must unite as Nigerians and negotiate. That to save Nigeria, we must go back to the people and people-centred programmes, activities and operations based on the principles of social justice.”

In the bid to achieve its set objectives, they resolved to engage and interface with relevant authorities, including the Nigerian presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly to impress on them the will and yearning of Nigerians for a new Nigeria that works for all and to bridge growing gaps and deficits in faith and trust between government and ordinary Nigerians to prevent political sabotage and total breakdown of law and order.

They also urged Federal Government and the National Assembly to appropriately use the ongoing constitution amendment process not only to douse tension but to cause amendments that will cause short term peace solutions and provide for Referendum/Constituents’ Assembly in Sections 8 and 9 of the existing 1999 constitution, without fail, to enable Nigerian citizens a leeway to taking full ownership of their Constitution as well as allow them to exercise their inalienable constitutional sovereignty over the country.

In the bid to deepen its reach, the Front resolved to set up a citizen’s driven national consultations under the newly initiated Coordinating Committee of People’s Constitutional Dialogue being anchored by Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Prof Attahiru Jega, Fr. (Dr.) George Ehusani, Dr Usman Bugaje, Chief (Dr) Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Sen Mike Ajegbo, Hadjia Najatu Mohammed, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Barr Femi Falana, SAN, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, and Prof Pat Utomi in a 60-member committee to explore people-led, process-driven national consultations and dialogue in building national understanding and stability in its task to facilitate a truly democratic people’s constitution for the country based on the principles of justice, fairness and equity.

“That a National Equity and Unity Committee under the joint leadership of Dr Olu Agunloye, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, Hon Dosunmu-Awolowo, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, Arch Eyo Etok, Dr Oby Ezekwelesi, Chief Peter Ameh, Chief Precious Elekima, Tanko Yunusa, Chief Olawale Okunniyi, Alh. Shehu Musa Gabam, Col Tony Nyiam, Prof Chidi OdinKaKu, Engr Buba Galadima, Father George Ehusani, Dr Ralph Okey Nwosu, Dr Chris Ekiyor, Dr Obadiah Malaifa, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Barr Natasha Akpoti, Bashorun Dele Momodu, Hon Janet Adeyemi, Senator Grace Brent, Alhaji Shettima Yerima and Senator Shehu Sanni to urgently identify and reach to various aggrieved and marginalized stakeholders in the country and to engage governments at various levels in ensuring justice, equity and unity in the country and for political leadership to be sensitive to national balancing as well as the culture of ensuring equity and justice to traditional interests while building up unifying national ethos. Full membership of the committee shall take more members from other interest groups and stakeholders.

“That considering a large number of Nigerians in diaspora, we have decided to set up Coordinating Peace Bodies in North America, Europe, Asia and African sub-region to find routine and diplomatic ways on how peace can return to Nigeria.

“That online recruitment and registration of members, players and promoters as well as establishing of Project Quarters in Nigeria, Africa, Europe, North America etc. have been authorized to commence immediately.”

Source: Nigerian Tribune

21 Directors Writes And Fails Exams To Become Permanent Secretaries

ACNN ADMIN — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:50:19 +0000

Twenty-one directors on Salary Grade Level 17 in the Federal Civil Service who sat a written examination as part of the process of appointing them as permanent secretaries failed the examination.

The 21 directors were among 46 senior officers who took the examination in Abuja on Monday.

The remaining 25 of them, who passed the examination, are now qualified for the next stage, which is the Information Communication Technology proficiency test holding on Thursday (today).

Although the Federal Government had in May announced the shortlisting of 47 directors for the examination among the 51 candidates who earlier faced a panel, results of only 46 directors were seen on the list of the result obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The document, titled ‘Re; Selection exercise for the appointment of permanent secretaries in the federal civil service,’ was dated June 1, 2021, and signed by Sunny Echocho on behalf of the examination committee.

Our correspondent reported that the 25 directors who passed the written examination and were invited for the next stage were those who scored 50 and above in the examination.

The 21 directors who failed the examination were those who scored below 50. A candidate with 33.5 was the director with the lowest score in the examination.

The director with 68.5 was the candidate with the highest score.

Names of the officials were, however, not indicated on the document.

The candidates were identified by their service numbers.

Those who pass the ICT test on Thursday will qualify for the last stage, which is an interactive session with a broad-based panel of experts and practitioners.

The candidates are competing to fill the vacancies of retired permanent secretaries and those retiring this year in five states of the federation.

The affected states are Ekiti, Katsina, Nasarawa, Enugu and Lagos.

Source: PUNCH

Aregbesola not invited To South-West APC meeting With Fashola, Sparks Confusion

ACNN ADMIN — Tue, 25 May 2021 09:50:02 +0000

Confusion was recorded on Monday over Sunday’s meeting of the South-West APC leaders as invitation to the excluded the party’s key stakeholders in the zone.

Those invited to the meeting as seen in the notice of the meeting signed by a former National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, included the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd); the Speaker, a former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, and the Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and another party leader, Chief Pius Akinyelure.

Other are the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; the Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith.

A chieftain of the party, who confided in one of our correspondents, said he did not understand why the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his counterpart for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, were not invited to the meeting.

Another top official of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, “If two former governors were at the meeting, I expected the ministers to be there. They are key stakeholders too.”

Mr Lani Baderinwa, an aide in charge of Public Communication for Chief Bisi Akande, could not be reached for comment on the matter.

Calls to his line did not go through and the reply to text message sent to him on whether the ministers were invited , was still being expected as of the time of filing this report.

Also, Sola Fasure, an aide to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, did not respond to text message asking if the ex Osun governor was invited. He did not pick calls to his mobile line as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, Hakeem Bello, the spokesman for the Minister for Works and Housing could not be reached.

However, one of his former aides in Lagos, who declined to be named, said the minister did not mention about the meeting.

“I cannot say if he was invited or not; he never mention a meeting in Lagos to us,” he said.

But a source the meeting who spoke to one of our correspondents, said there was no hidden agenda in exclusion of some key stakeholders.

He said, “This is just the first in a series of meetings. They were not invited to this one because the issue at hand at the moment is internal.

“This is like foundation laying, they will be invited subsequently. The fact that they were not invited to this one is not to slight anyone.”

Fayemi, Akeredolu endorse’s west APC leaders’ decisions

Meanwhile, Fayemi on Monday expressed support for the resolutions of the APC South-West leaders.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, who said the governor was not aware of the meeting due to “mix up in the invitation sent out,” said Fayemi was in total support of the decisions at the meeting.

Oyebode said, “The absence of an invitation for the South-West APC leaders meeting prevented the governor from attending the meeting, as he was not aware.

“Governor Fayemi, as a true democrat and South-West leader who is committed to the welfare of the people, is, however, in total support of the decisions reached by the South-West leaders at the meeting which include an endorsement of the positions earlier adopted by the southern governors on the ban on open grazing and the need for true federalism, among others.

“For clarity, the invitation for the meeting which was said to have been sent via Whatsapp by Mr Tunde Rahman, an aide to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, never got to Governor Fayemi.

Also, Akeredolu said lack of “timeous communication and aside mix up,” were largely responsible for his inability to attend the meeting.”

In statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olabode Olatunde, on Monday, the governor said he had thrown his weight behind the outcome of the meeting.

The statement reads partly, “Governor Akeredolu would have loved to be present at the meeting for several reasons. However, a slight mix-up and communication gap had caused his unintended absence even as an earlier engagement had been fixed for Ibadan weeks before the meeting.

“As one of the leaders of the APC in the South-West, and more so that, he presided over the Asaba meeting of the southern governors, nothing could be more spirit-lifting than the outcome of the Lagos meeting on Sunday. He, therefore, endorses all the resolutions reached by the leaders who attended the meeting.”

The Deputy Senate leader, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, said on Monday that he was not involved.

Akintoye warns APC leaders

The President, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Banji Akintoye, has warned the APC leaders that attended the South-West Forum meeting on Sunday in Lagos, not to stand against the interests of the Yoruba.

In a statement on Monday, Akintoye said, “It is a pity that in rejecting the Yoruba nation state and clinging to Nigeria, they have taken a decision which they are certain to regret.

Don’t Wait For FG, Convene A National Summit To Save Nigeria, Atiku Tells Governors

ACNN ADMIN — Mon, 17 May 2021 11:31:37 +0000

ACNNtv

Updated: May 17, 2021

FORMER vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has declared his opposition over regional meetings as a means of proffering solutions to the current insecurity situation in the country, he said that rather than resort to such fora, state governors should meet as one body to save the country without waiting for the intervention of the Federal Government.

He titled his: ‘Nigeria Is Drifting: We Must Stop Waiting For Godot,’ which was released on Sunday, he said the state chief executives should come together as a national unity summit of all Nigerian governors to salvage thorny issues affecting the Nigeria.

According to Atiku, trying to find solutions on regional platforms will equate clapping with one hand.

Nigeria’s former vice President said: “Let us apply this wisdom to our present challenges. I call on Nigerian governors to stop waiting on Abuja to make changes, and instead convene a national unity summit of all Nigerian governors to iron out the thorny issues affecting the destiny of our nation until they figure out a way to resolve them.

“Forget about your party. Forget about your tribe. Respect your religion and allow it to bring out the better part of you. Meet together. Talk together. Come up with the solutions to all our collective challenges.

“And then go back to your states and consult with your federal and state legislators, with a view to getting them to work with their colleagues to implement the solutions you came up with. That is how to save Nigeria.

“To keep waiting for this Federal Government to take the lead and effect the changes that Nigeria needs to stop drifting is to keep waiting for Godot. And that is a luxury we cannot afford.”

The Peoples Democratic Party’s 2019 presidential candidate observed that the major challenge facing Nigeria today “is that we are drifting. We are not just drifting politically and economically, we are also drifting apart from each other.” Adding that: “I have often said that the difference between us is not North and South, but between good and bad. Therefore, those who are good should come together to show those who are bad that we are in the overwhelming majority.

“I have repeatedly said that I am a Nigerian. Full stop. That is my identity. And now more than ever, we must ask ourselves this question: what does it mean to be a Nigerian?

“A Nigerian is one who is committed to the idea of the indivisibility of Nigeria and who is invested in respecting, even if you disagree with, the differences that exist within this nation space, and respecting the right of others to coexist with you, irrespective of religious, regional or ethnic differences.

“That is what being a Nigerian means to me. And that is why I believe that all those who believe in Nigeria should stand up to be counted.

“It is un-Nigerian to terrorise your fellow citizens. Up until about a decade ago, we did not have this. It is un-Nigerian to abduct people. And this is undoubtedly a new menace that has low historical precedence in Nigeria.

“The truth is that if at a national level, we address these un-Nigerian tendencies immediately and dispassionately, we would not have Nigerians congregating at a regional or sub-regional level to address these issues.

“What our present challenges, therefore, call for is not fragmentation but concentration. We must concentrate and focus our national willpower and resolve towards fighting these un-Nigerian tendencies.

“Governors representing some states have met. And I completely understand the necessity of their meeting and the wisdom of their decisions. But no matter how much you try to clap with one hand, the vibrations will not be the same as when you clap with two hands.”

Atiku stressed that Nigeria’s problems were brought about by those with a regional mindset and can’t be solved by those with such mindset.

He added that: “For too long, we have erroneously thought that the power to make effective changes lies at Aso Rock. But without the states, nobody can get to Aso Rock. That is why for anyone to emerge as president of Nigeria, he or she must secure enough votes in two-thirds of the states that make up the Nigerian federation.”

While pointing out the depth of the nation’s fall in several indices, Atiku stated: “We do know that our governors know that all is not well with Nigeria. That is why they have been meeting. At regional and sub-regional levels. That knowledge comes with a duty to act and to act together. Because if we do not act together, then the alternative is that we fall asunder. And God forbid that should ever be our fate.

“We must be mindful of the fact that one in four Africans is a Nigerian. And one in seven Black people on Earth is Nigerian. Therefore, being so centrally placed by God, it ought to be clear to us that it is our duty to be a beacon of light to the Black World.

“If we succeed as a nation, our successes will resonate beyond our borders. It will give hope to the Black Diaspora and increase the standing of Black people all over the world.

“That is why we cannot fail. That is why we cannot retreat into our regional enclaves. Too much is at stake. We are too centrally located to be dislocated.”