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hardynwa · 1 year

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Tinubu’s outburst on 25 per cent FCT votes sparks fresh controversy

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2023 presidential election and now President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmedu Tinubu, stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he cautioned the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, against attempting to remove him from office on the grounds that he did not get 25 percent of the total votes cast during the presidential election in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He warned that such action could lead to chaos and anarchy in the country. President Tinubu asked the election tribunal to dismiss the petition seeking the nullification of his election for not securing 25 percent of the lawful votes cast in the FCT, arguing that having scored 25 percent in about 30 states of the federation, his failure to obtain 25 percent in the FCT would not be strong enough to deny him of his hard-earned victory. Tinubu contested the February 25 presidential elections on the platform of the APC and was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after polling 8,794,726 votes to beat his closest rivals, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled 6, 984, 520 votes to place second, and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, Atiku and Obi had approached the election tribunal seeking to upturn Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that the elections were characterised by massive rigging as evidenced in the alleged widespread voters’ intimidation and suppression, ballot box snatching and destruction, over-voting, results manipulations, thuggery, vote buying, INEC’s failure to abide by its own rules and procedures, physical assault on voters, among others. Apart from these, Atiku and Obi also want Tinubu’s victory to be nullified because he did not score 25 percent of the total valid votes cast in the FCT, which according to them, is a constitutional requirement before anybody can be declared president of Nigeria. Since Tinubu’s declaration as the winner of that election, political discussion has been swinging like a pendulum. Nigerians, who prior to the elections were passive politically, had suddenly become active, discussing and analysing political developments from the election tribunal. Analysts are united in agreement that never in the history of Nigerian politics has there been the kind of political awareness and participation that were witnessed during the 2023 general elections. They also agreed that the country’s political firmament has never been as charged and ominous as it was between the period when Tinubu was declared the winner of the presidential election and May 29, when he was actually sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, Atiku and Obi have pursued their case at the election petition tribunal with each presenting before the tribunal pictures, videos and documentary evidence to prove that Tinubu should not have been declared as president in the first place, not to talk of swearing him into the office. The issue around Tinubu’s failure to get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT appears to be the strongest point against the president since it is a constitutional issue and does not require presenting any witness by the petitioners. But Tinubu, through his legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun, in a final written address to the tribunal against the petition, argued that the FCT is the 37th state for electoral purposes. He stressed that any other interpretation would “lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.” Stressing that the petition is novel but not familiar with the electoral law, Olanipekun said: “The issue in this address is very novel in the sense that it is not a petition stricto senso, familiar to our electoral jurisprudence, as the petitioners are not, this time around, complaining about election rigging, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing, violence, thuggery, vote buying, voters’ intimidation, disenfranchisement, interference by the military or the police, and such other electoral vices.” The lawyer was specifically addressing a section of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that a presidential candidate must score 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Since Tinubu was declared as the winner of the presidential election without scoring 25 percent in the FCT, several opinions have been expressed on the matter by Nigerians of all classes, including those that are not lawyers. There are those who have kept on insisting that the constitution considers Abuja as one of the states in the country. Those on this divide are saying that the word, ‘and’ as used in the constitution, ‘36 states of the federation and the FCT,’ does not really mean that the FCT is different from the 36 states of the federation. To them, the FCT is just the same as any other state of the federation. They, therefore, posited that Tinubu, having scored 25 percent of the votes cast in about 30 states, is eminently qualified to be declared president since the constitution said a candidate must secure 25 percent in two-third of the 36 states and the FCT, which is 24 states. However, there are those who insist that the word, ‘and’ as used in the constitution simply means that if any candidate who scores 25 percent of the votes cast in two-third of the 36 states, fails to score 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT, such a candidate has not met the constitutional requirement and should not be declared president. They further argued that if the framers of the constitution had a different thing in mind, they would not have inserted the word, ‘and’ there. They also disagreed with those who said that the FCT is just like any other state in the federation because while a state has a governor, who is elected by the electorate, the FCT does not have a governor, but a minister who is an appointee of the president. However, there are others who believe that even though the constitution provides that securing 25 percent votes cast in the FCT is a compulsory requirement before any candidate could win the presidential election, it would be left for the judges to look at what will best serve national interest and unity before they pass their judgement. However, Tinubu’s legal team seems to have agreed with those on this side of the divide as they are also saying that the courts have always been careful about giving extreme interpretations of the Constitution that could spark chaos. “Our courts have always adopted the purposeful approach to the interpretation of our Constitution, as exemplified in a host of decisions,” the team said. Tinubu’s legal team is also insisting that residents of the FCT, Abuja, are not more special than Nigerians from the other 36 states and cannot be treated specially. The team said: “In concluding our arguments on this issue, we urge the court to hold that any election where the electorates exercise their plebiscite, there is neither a ‘royal’ ballot nor ‘royal’ voter; and that residents of the FCT do not have any special voting right over residents of any other state of the federation, in a manner similar to the concepts of preferential shareholding in Company Law. We urge this court to resolve this issue against the petitioners and in favour of the respondent.” Pushing the argument further, the President’s legal team is also arguing that 25 percent votes cast in the FCT is not required by law for a president to emerge. “May we draw the attention of the court to the fact that there is no punctuation (comma) in the entire section 134(2)(b) of the constitution, particularly, immediately after the ‘States’ and the succeeding ‘and’ connecting the Federal Capital Territory with the States. In essence, the reading of the subsection has to be conjunctive and not disjunctive, as the Constitution clearly makes it so. Pressed further by this constitutional imperative, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is taken ‘as if’ it is the 37th State, under and by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.” However, the comment credited to President Tinubu’s legal team that removing him as president over his failure to score 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT might lead to the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria has sparked another round of argument. President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus, described the president as a joker for making such a statement. According to the Middle Belt leader, nobody is above the constitution and if the constitution has been interpreted that the ‘and’ is conjunctive, and that the FCT is additional to the two-third of the states, then it is not for President Tinubu to determine. “He cannot tell us that he is above the constitution and the laws of the nation. If the Supreme Court interprets that according to the law and the constitution, then it is above not only him, but also above every other Nigerian like him. This is because the constitution is the grundnorm; it is superior to every other law that we have in Nigeria. It is the only thing that is binding us together. “So, if the constitution interprets it that way, it is not how I feel or how he or any other person feels because the law is not a respecter of persons. He cannot tell us that there will be anarchy in the land if the tribunal interprets the constitution. The country and the constitution are above him,” he said. Also, a legal practitioner, Marcellus Onah did not agree that there will be anarchy in the land if the tribunal removes the president on the grounds that he did not get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT. “What does he mean by anarchy in the land? Yes, a few of his supporters might want to cause trouble but that will be in Lagos only, not even in any other South West states. And I am sure the security agents will know what to do in such circumstances. “So, he cannot threaten anybody because he is not more Nigerian than anybody. Besides, nobody is above the law. The constitution is the only document that guides how everybody operates in Nigeria, so nobody should claim to be above it. “If the tribunal has established that he did not get 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT, there is nothing anybody can do. That is just it and no amount of threat from him can change anything. The constitution must prevail at all times. That is the only thing that will make the outside world respect us as a nation,” he said. Read the full article

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crimechannels · 11 months

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By • Olalekan Fagbade JUST IN; Crack at Supreme Court as retiring Justice alleges abuse of power by CJN Barely 24hours after affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu, the Supreme Court is reportedly in crisis. A retiring justice of the court, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who reportedly pulled out from the seven-man panel that dismissed all the appeals that sought to remove President Tinubu from office, has accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, of abusing the powers of his office. Justice Muhammad, who spent 47 years in active judicial service, bowed out of the apex court bench on Friday, having clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age. He used the opportunity of a valedictory session that was organised in his honour by the Supreme Court, to address what he observed as rots in the judiciary that have continued to affect the justice delivery system in the country. “Through the years, I rose to become the second most senior justice of the country’s apex court and Deputy Chairperson of the National Judicial Council. “Considering the number of years I have spent in judicial service and the position I have attained by the grace of the Almighty, I feel obligated to continue the struggle for reforms for a better Judiciary and would be leaning on the earlier submissions of those who had exited before me,” Justice Muhammad stated before he descended on the CJN. He maintained that the judiciary, as presently structured, gave so much power to the CJN who he said usually take decisions without consulting other justices. “As presently structured, the CJN is Chairman of the NJC which oversees both the appointment and discipline of judges, he is equally Chair of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) that appoints Senior Advocate of Nigeria. “In my considered opinion, the oversight functions of these bodies should not rest on an individual alone. A person with absolute powers, it is said, corrupts easily and absolutely. “As Chair of NJC, FJSC, NJI and LPPC, appointments as council, board and commitment members are at his pleasure. He neither confers with fellow justices nor seek their counsel or input on any matter related to these bodies. He has both the final and the only say. “The CJN has power to appoint 80 percent of members of the council and 60 percent of members of FJSC. The same applies to NJI and LPPC. “Such enormous powers are effortlessly abused. This needs to change. Continued denial of the existence of this threatening anomaly weakens effective judicial oversight in the country,” he added. On the current composition of the bench of the apex court, Justice Muhammad alleged that the refusal to fill the vacant slot of South East on the apex court bench, was deliberate, blaming it on “absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN.” He further stressed that with his retirement, the North Central zone which he represented, would no longer have a Justice on the Supreme Court bench. “My lord Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko JSC who also represented the zone retired on 23rd of May, 2022. It has been a year and five months now. There has not been any replacement. “With the passing of my lord, Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, JSC on 29th July 2023, the South East no longer has any presence at the Supreme Court. My lord, Hon. Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta JSV died on 7th March 2021. There has not been any appointment in his stead for the South East. “As it stands, only four geo-political regions- the South-West, South-South, North-West and North-East are represented in the Supreme Court. “While the South-South and North-East have two serving justices, the North-West and South-West are fully represented with three each. “Appropriate steps could have been taken since to fill outstanding vacancies in the apex court. Why have these steps not been timeously taken? “It is evident that the decision not to fill the vacancies in the court is deliberate.

It is all about the absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN and the responsible exercise of same,” the retiring jurist added. On the issue of membership of the panel that heard the presidential election appeals by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, Justice Muhammad, said: “To ensure justice and transparency in presidential appeals from the lower court, all geo-political zones are required to participate in the hearing. “It is therefore dangerous for democracy and equity for two entire regions to be left out in the decisions that will affect the generality of Nigerians. “This is not what our laws envisage. Although it can be posited that no one expected the sudden passing of Hon. Justice Nweze JSC, yet, it has been two years and seven months since previous justice from South-East died and no appointment was made.” On funding and independence of the Judiciary, the retiring justice bemoaned that though the budgetary allocation for the Judiciary increased from 70billion that it was in 2015 to 165billion presently, “Justices and officers welfare and the quality of service the judiciary render have continued to decline.” “It may interest one to know that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court earns more than the Justices. While she earns N1.2m per month, justices take home N751, 000 in a month. “The CJN on his part takes home N400, 000 plus. The salary of a Justice, curiously, drops rather than increases when he gets the added responsibility of being a CJN. “That the unjust and embarrassing salary difference between the justices and the Chief Registrar still abides remains intriguing to say the least.” He noted that it was owing to allegations of corruption and perversion of justice, that informed President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to order the invasion of homes and arrest of some judges in 2016. “Not done, in 2019 the government accosted, arrested and arraigned the incumbent Chief Justice before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged underhand conduct. “With his retirement apparently negotiated, he was eventually left off the hook. “In 2022, a letter signed by all other justices of the Supreme Court, including the current Chief Justice, the aggrieved protested against the shabby treatment meted to them by the head of court and the Chief Registrar. “In the event, his lordship Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad disengaged ostensibly on grounds of ill-health. “My lords, distinguished invitees, ladies and gentlemen, it is obvious that the judiciary I am exiting from is far from the one I voluntarily joined and desired to serve and be identified with. The institution has become something else,” Justice Muhammad lamented. Meanwhile, earlier in the ceremony, the CJN, in his speech, paid glowing tribute to the retiring jurist who he described as a “quintessential Judicial icon with dazzling qualities and alluring stature.” “His Lordship is one judicial officer that could be blunt, even to a fault; and is never known to be afraid to say things the way they are; and also never shies away from calling a spade by its name, irrespective of whose ox is gored,” the CJN stated. He decried that with Justice Muhammad’s exit, the apex court bench has further depleted to 10.

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tickernewsng · 2 years

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A lawsuit seeking the disqualification of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from contesting during the 2023 elections for allegedly presenting a forged certificate will be heard by a Federal High Court in Abuja on September 7. The Plaintiffs, who are four chieftains of the APC asked the court for an order disqualifying Tinubu, from contesting or participating in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election as a candidate of All Progressives Congress on the grounds of the information he supplied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the presidential candidate of the party. In a 33-paragraph affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by Ibiang Miko Ibiang, the plaintiffs claimed that Tinubu falsely swore to an affidavit in 1999 in which he claimed to have attended St. Paul Aroloya Children Home School, Ibadan -1958-64 and Government College, Ibadan -1965-68 and presented same to INEC. They also claimed that after this turned out to be false, Tinubu allegedly tried to conceal this by refusing to provide any information whatsoever relating to his primary and Secondary schools in his INEC form for the 2023 election. Counsel to the Plaintiff, Goddy Uche, told the court that substituted service has become necessary because all attempts to serve the presidential candidate have proved abortive as he cannot be reached. Justice Ahmed Mohammed who ruled on the case, ordered that the Court process be served on the National Secretariat of APC and that such service shall be deemed as having been properly served on Bola Tinubu. He further adjourned the case to September 7. The plaintiffs had posed the following questions for determination;  Whether having regard to the provision of sections 1 (3); 4(1)and 2; 14(1),(2)(a), and (c)and 42(1)(a)and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended), the provision of section 29(5)of the Electoral Act, 2022 as enacted by the 4th Defendant which modified the provision section 31(5) of the Electoral Act,2010(as amended) is not ultra vires the 4th Defendant and therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatever. Whether having regard to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case Modibbo Vs Usman (2020) 3 NWLR(PT.1712)470 and the provision of section 137(1)(j) the 3rd Defendant has not presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the 1st Defendant and thereby disqualified from participating in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential General Election. They also prayed that upon the favourable determination of the above questions, for the  following reliefs: A declaration of the Court that the provision of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act,2022 is ultra vires the 4th Defendant and unconstitutional, null, void, and of no effect whatsoever. An order of the Court striking out/striking down the provision of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 from the Electoral Act and the body of extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria same being ultra vires the 4th and 5th Defendants, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever. A declaration that the 3rd Defendant has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the purpose of seeking to be elected into the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A declaration that the 3rd defendant stands disqualified from participating in the 2023 presidential election as a candidate of the 2nd Defendant has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the purpose of seeking to be elected into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. An order disqualifying the 3rd Defendant from contesting or participating in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential general election as a candidate of the 2nd Defendant.

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youthsloadedmedia · 3 years

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2023: As Aregbesola Falls-Out With Tinubu, Omisore Becomes The "New Bride"

2023: As Aregbesola Falls-Out With Tinubu, Omisore Becomes The “New Bride”

2023: As Aregbesola Falls-Out With Tinubu, Omisore Becomes The “New Bride” On Wednesday, March 16, 2020, Bola Tinubu, presidential aspirant and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), met with the party’s Senate Caucus at the National Assembly. The ex-governor of Lagos State visited the lawmakers to seek their support, counsel and partnership for his 2023 presidential bid which he…

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premimtimes · 7 years

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A former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday criticised the Goodluck Jonathan administration for not doing enough in security, the economy and other sectors.

Mr. Tinubu also highlighted the successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration so far.

The All Progressives Congress leader stated these at the presentation of a book: ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress’ in Abuja.

Read his full speech below

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK

‘’MAKING STEADY, SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS’’

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

ABUJA-NIGERIA.

PROTOCOLS

We are many things as a people. Among them, is that we can be a clamorous nation.

Noise abounds. Voices rise. Critics moan. The angry and the desperate even question whether this nation should exist, whether it is an experience or experiment that has failed.

Mr. President, the noise can be loud, almost deafening at times. Yet ultimately both noise and clamour shall fade, for progress.

What shall be left is reality and fact. The core reality, the fact of our political existence, is that Nigeria is an indivisible entity; a nation of many peoples wedded in common enterprise with its better days yet before it.

Yes, we were born of a complicated past, and face a challenging present. Ah, but our future, yes our future, can be one of progress, compassion, justice and hope, if only we have the courage to make it so.

We have passed but two years under this government. In the measure of human affairs, this seems a brief period in part but also long in part. We are both the same and different now than we were then.

Before this government came into being, Boko Haram wreaked havoc on a daily basis. Spreading its evil arm across great expanses of our national territory, Boko Haram invaded town and villages, erasing the peace and normalcy of the people to replace it with wanton brutality, hatred and death.

They hoisted their dreadful flag where only the green and white of Nigeria should have been.

Today, that evil flag is not planted over an inch of our precious land. This violent scourge recedes into the darkened shadows of inhumanity from whence it came.

People once under its horrid dominion now breathe the air of freedom and safety.

Boko Haram has not been completely defeated. But there is no question, that it has been decimated and made shorter and weaker. They shall never constitute the threat they once were.

This is no accident. It is the result of the policies and commitment of President Buhari, his government and the men and women of our armed forces who place their lives on the line in silent heroism to protect this nation and its people.

Had the previous government remained in place, Boko Haram would have surely eaten more territory and devoured more people. This nation might have indeed been divided and cut asunder, not by choice but by the knife of terrorism.

The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves.

So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could. That which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.

One minister and her rogues’ gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card but in the corruption, they won the gold medal.

It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption had become institutionalized.

President Buhari has set an axe to the root of this dangerous tree. I would be lying if I said the war against large-scale corruption has been won.

It has not. It will take time and countless swings of the axe to fall such a deeply-rooted tree. But try we must. This is what the President is doing.

Gone are the times when a minister can pilfer billions of dollars as easy as plucking a piece of candy from the table.

We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credits for our people to reduce temptation.

We must also take greater care by placing people of character, competence and goodness into key positions. When they fail, they must be removed without remorse or favour.

Unlike its predecessor, this government has demonstrated the will to walk this path. While this might not cause much fanfare or celebration, this cleanses the institutions upon which a nation’s wellbeing is founded with a future assured.

The economy remains our biggest long-term challenge. The prior government operated during times of plenty. The opposite is the case now. Sadly, that plenty was stolen or directed toward policies of no lasting consequence to the average Nigerian save to compel them to say another opportunity had been wasted.

Through no fault of its own, this administration had to grapple with a rapid fall in oil prices.

That fall brought recession and collapsed our exchange rate regime. More fundamentally, it showed that the very economic model upon which this nation operated was outmoded and flawed. Unfortunately the past administration did nothing to re-calibrate the economy.

With fewer resources at hand, this government is compelled to do more. It must respond to immediate needs in a way that leads to long-term economic reform.

This will be a complex journey. This government has taken the first steps in the right direction.

We are inching out of recession. The exchange rate has stabilized. Internationally, we are seen as on the mend and have been recognized for making significant progress in the ease of doing business.

In hindsight, the election of President Buhari had an air of inevitability to it. Despite the odds arrayed against him, the sovereign will of the people lifted him to victory.

He is truly the right man for this time and place.

This is why I am pleased by the publication of this book with the just and appropriate title ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Security.’

The president’s media team, Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu and Laolu Akande, worked with the various ministries to assemble this comprehensive, objective catalogue of the work this government has done.

This book is a good account of the work this government has accomplished to date.

This book is needed for it sheds light on what may be obscure to the average person.

President Buhari is a man who exercises an economy of speech. He is a man of action not of chatter.

President Muhammadu Buhari

He will not spend time blowing his own trumpet because his preference is to move to the next important task.

Thus, it is apt that these men serve him in a way he would never think of serving himself.

I have already discussed the progress made regarding security, corruption and the general economy, this triad being the core promises made by the President and our party to the Nigerian people.

But this book reveals so much more being done in all areas of life. This work may not be spectacular but it is essential. It may not be flashy but it is foundational and enduring.

In agriculture, where the bulk of our people make their living, this government has strengthened research and development to enhance productivity, it has taken steps to increase exports, while rationalising fertiliser and seed distribution. Farm credits and financing have improved allowing farmers to expand existing crops and grow new ones, including fisheries and aquaculture.

I don’t know about you, but I call this the progress we need!

In education, this administration has reduced the number of out-of school children. School lunch programs for the poorest among us have been initiated.

Teachers have been hired and are being better trained. This government seeks to inject ICT into the school system. Universal Basic Education is more of a priority than ever before. Our universities and other tertiary institutions are better funded than ever before.

I don’t know about you but I call this the progress we need!

With regard to labour, this government works with the private sector to create jobs and to engage people in the training required as we transit from a mono-dimensional economy to one more diverse and reliant on industry and skill.

I call this the progress we need!

Regarding social welfare, the opposition scoffed when this government announced living stipends for the poorest families. Now this is becoming reality. Relief of the poor has replaced the ridicule of the uncaring. The selfish unbelievers scoff no longer.

I call this the progress we need.

Regarding infrastructure, this government is making progress in building and rehabilitation of strategic ports, bridges, railways and highways.

I call this progress that we need!

This government responded when states were unable to pay workers salaries. This saved tens of thousands of families of civil servants from wallowing in despair and poverty.

I call this the type of responsible government we need!

I could go on with examples. But due to the constraints of time, let me say just that this book demonstrates this government has moved with a sure and steady hand toward sustainable progress.

While each change may not be dramatic in itself, the cumulative effects of these reforms make for a stronger nation and a future assured.

Yet, I lay caution to those people whose words and actions would counsel complacency.

True, much good has been done by this government to ignore. However, too many of our people remain too poor and put-out to ignore as well.

Daylight comes but not yet to all and not in equal measure.

Due to the neglect of prior governments, our economy was not allowed to blossom in a way that offered jobs to the poor and empowered the common man.

Where prosperity should have stood, poverty was erected. Where progress should have been established, stagnation assumed residence. We are trying hard to escape this deep hole.

While we work toward this good end, we must recognize the situation of millions of our people. Wrongfully denied for so long, they suffer still. But we ask them to take heart. Don’t forfeit hope. Understand that tomorrow will not be as the past when what was built and bought was not intended for you.

What we now building, is meant for you. This is your government and you will be the beneficiaries of its policies and programs. You are no longer the forgotten. You are the hope and promise of a nation and its future.

As this government implements its economic plans, the griping poverty you have long suffered will give way and ultimately turn into the fertile progress and prosperity that only good governance can bring.

We do this with a sense of urgency!

We race against unrelenting time. By incident of technology, the black liquid underground could be converted into money and international prestige.

By further incident of technology, that liquid is already progressively losing its economic value. We no longer have an underground vault of money. One day, the liquid beneath our feet will simply be that – merely liquid beneath our feet.

We must train our policies to ensure when that day finally comes we will not be lost again. The history of a depressed economy must not be allowed to repeat itself.

Here, permit me to offer a few observations on how we might proceed. There will be those who might distort what I say here as evidence of “space” between President Buhari and me. There evidence will be false and their news about this will be fake.

Mischief never dies. Fortunately, nor does the truth.

What I proffer today is done in the spirit of utmost respect and affinity by one who wants the best for this government and for Nigeria. I say these things to encourage the government to achieve the greatness the times demand and of which this government is capable.

The battlefront upon which this nation’s fate shall be decided is the economy.

On this, almost all else shall hang.

In addition to talking about this book which describes our immediate past and present, I want to briefly mention another document: The 2018 budget.

This budget moves us farther in the right direction. It is a bolder, more creative one than this government’s earlier editions.

It shows this government has embraced its progressive identity despite the chorus of opposition. Also that it more clearly realizes the depths of the economic and financial challenges before us.

One of the important aspects of this budget is the capital expenditure for needed infrastructure.

This investment means the government fully recognises our economy must grow but that it cannot expand beyond the parameters of the infrastructural grid that serves it.

With this book and with the budget we come to the place where past intersects with the present to interact with the future. The place where what we do or don’t do will dictate the Nigeria of tomorrow.

We are inching out of recession but growth must increase.

It is time to lead our people to a place where poverty and hunger become infrequent and where prosperity and hope are the daily fare of the common man.

There are three key ideas I would like to table before you today.

First, we are among the world’s most populous nations and potentially one of its most powerful. No populous nation has ever attained prosperity without first establishing a robust industrial capacity.

In one form or another, England, America, Japan and China implemented policies to protect key industries, promote employment and encourage exports.

These nations represent the past, present and immediate future of national economic achievement.

If Nigeria is to be a leader in the next phase of global economic history, we must learn from these prior successes. The common thread between these nations was the objective of buffering strategic industries in ways that allows for the expansion and growth of the overall economy.

In this vein, our national industrial revolution plan must be more than mere words. It must be refined and implemented with a laser-like focus. Just as the private sector may partner with government on public endeavours, government must guide and support the private sector into new areas of industry and production.

Government must invest in research and new products the private sector may find risky and uncertain in the initial stage. Government policy must push and incentivise the private sector into the production of goods that will be demanded in the immediate future and for some time to come.

This requires a heretofore unprecedented coordination between the private sector and government.

Whether we focus on steel, textiles, cars, machinery components, processed agricultural goods, other items, or any combination of the above, we must manufacture things the rest of the world wants to buy and not necessarily the things we think are the easiest to do.

Second, as a corollary to the push for industrial maturity, we need a national infrastructural plan that accords with both the industrial plan and with extant agricultural activity. The fulcrum of this plan must be continued progress in the achievement of adequate and affordable electric power, especially solar and winds.

Third, we must help the common farmer by improving rural output and incomes. We must return to commodity exchange boards or similar mechanism to allow farmers to secure their income and hedge against loss. An active and expanded agricultural loan scheme is needed to further promote these goals.

What Tinubu said about Buhari, Jonathan govts (FULL TEXT) A former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, on Thursday criticised the Goodluck Jonathan administration for not doing enough in security, the economy and other sectors.

#All Progressives Congress #Bola Tinubu #former Lagos State governor #Goodluck Jonathan #News #Nigerian news #PREMIUM TIMES

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planar-echoes · 8 years

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Bolas’s Secret Minions (Alara) By Doug Beyer (1/28/09)

As Nicol Bolas knows, the road to power is paved with the backs of willing minions. Total dominion over the Multiverse isn't going to arrive gift-wrapped on anyone's doorstep—even on the broad and inviting doorstep of an ancient, super-intelligent dragon like him. Power takes people. Any good diabolical plan requires servants just as any good machine needs its tiny, tireless, interlocking cogs.

But it's tough to find good help these days.

The sad truth is, minions are liable to flake out on you at a moment's notice. It takes most humanoids an average of merely two community-sundering betrayals before they're putting in their two weeks' notice. Research shows that their minds are simply too shallow to comprehend the majesty of the schemes of today's villain, and that their capacity for rote obedience is compromised by their kind's chronic affliction of volition.

So what is an evil mastermind to do? Work with substandard cogs? Roll up one's sleeves and attempt to go it alone? Despair of ruling the totality of everything altogether?

No! Finding good minions can be easy—and fun. You just have to look for a certain psychological profile. You have to learn to read the signs, quickly and accurately, to determine a person's likelihood to become a quality minion. Today we take a look at two minion success stories to serve as case studies for servant-seeking villains everywhere.

● Gwafa Hazid, Merchant of Bant

The first of our case studies concerns the human Gwafa Hazid of the shard of Bant. Hazid is like many denizens of that pastoral pastiche of kingdoms: he is hard-working, angel-fearing, and sociable. Obedience to systems of law, deference toward those of higher caste, and respect for authority come naturally to the residents of Bant. But don't make the mistake of thinking that any humanoid from that shard is cut out to be your minion—on the contrary. Most Bant natives are so obsessed not only with loyalty but also with moral value that your efforts to convert their devotion to your own devious causes will often be in vain. Indeed, if you should see the proud profile of a knight-captain, you might get ideas of turning him or her into a strong minion. But take our advice and look elsewhere. These honor-bound knights respect a code antithetical to your purposes. Mind-altering magic can reverse their loyalties, but in our experience, the process is not only resource-intensive, but also dampens their warrior spirit, defeating the purpose of the selected minion. Know them by their puffed-out chest, their eyes cast directly into the glory of the sun, and their propensity to smell the evil in your soul and attack you on sight.

But Hazid is different. Gwafa Hazid is a master merchant of Bant's Grand Caravan, the world's greatest convoy of leotau-pulled trade carts and carriages, which ranges all over Bant's five nations. He's a shrewd businessman, always ending up on the gainful end of the deal, and he's constantly on the move, forever crisscrossing Bant to bring wagonsful of merchandise to waiting customers. And Hazid's deals aren't always exactly to the letter of Bant's laws, yet whenever any not-quite-legal goods find their way onto one of his many caravans, his head never finds its way into the pillory for it. When border inspectors or Blessed-caste rulers look to constrict his actions, he persuades prying eyes to look elsewhere.

In fact, Hazid is such an expert at persuasion, he can cause just about anyone to stand there.

Hazid has great potential as a minion, because he has something that most of Bant's residents do not: ambition. He wants more than what life gave him, and that's tantamount to sin in Bant's rigid caste hierarchy. He's drawn to reach higher and farther than the boundaries of his station, which gives him reason to lie, to sneak, and to buy off potential threats with some of his ample coin. By dangling the right promises in front of Hazid's ambitious mind, one might be able to sway him to perform even darker deeds on Bant.

In other words, he's prime material for minionhood, which is exactly why Nicol Bolas reached out to him to serve as part of the dragon's master plan. Neither the totality of that plan nor Hazid's role in it have yet to be revealed, but Hazid's grasping ambition will no doubt be the key to his fate—as will it be key to the fate of Alara itself.

● Rakka Mar, Elementalist of Jund

Our second case study concerns a human shaman of Jund, the elementalist Rakka Mar. Rakka's story is a bit different—she's a minion whose distinction lies in having minions of her own. She's an old woman by Jund's standards—nearing fifty, which is almost unheard of on that savage, predatory shard. She has the powerful gift of summoning elementals of rage and flame to her side, and has survived by putting those minions between herself and Jund's dangers.

Over the years, Rakka Mar has drifted from clan to clan of human warriors, offering her services of elemental summoning to those who will take her in. She has seen many clans disintegrate in their pursuit of the Life Hunt, Jund's peculiar tradition of gathering almost suicidally brave warriors to assault enormous prey. Her elementals have been a useful weapon in those Hunts, but for her the Life Hunt has a deeper purpose.

Rakka's driving desire is to be able to summon even greater and more devastating elementals—although it may seem a defensive desire to combat the encroachment of death, at root her motivation is a simple lust for power. Power-lust is one of the most easy-to-accommodate aspirations of a potential minion; simply string them along with occasional gifts of new spells and rituals, and they will do your bidding to the end.

Nicol Bolas saw the potential in Rakka Mar immediately. The fact that she ranges all over Jund and interacts with clan after clan means that she gives Bolas great reach into the minds and hearts of many of Jund's cultures. Bolas has used Rakka's influence among the human war-clans to promote even greater and more dramatic Life Hunts, preparing them to transition immediately to open war with the other shards as soon as the Conflux begins.

In return, Rakka has gained dark powers of elementalism the likes of which she's never felt before. Her facility with summoning even outstrips her early career as a promising young shaman's daughter. Her soul spills over with dark rage, making it hard for her to keep hidden her growing malice for her own kind, but at the same time giving her an abnormal vivacity that's allowed her to keep pace with the muscular predators of Jund. She's seen only fragments of Bolas's plans—as gleams in his draconic eyes, during his short visits in Jund to counsel her—but she knows something greater than her entire savage world lies in her fate. She knows her status as a minion—and is all too willing to play her part.

#magic the gathering #vorthos #alara #nicol #bolas #rakka #mar #jund #gwafa #hazid #bant

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hardynwa · 1 year

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Atiku’s motion seeking live broadcast of tribunal’s proceedings for hearing May 18

The Presidential Election Petition Court on Thursday in Abuja fixed May 18, 2023, for a hearing of a motion on notice seeking a live telecast of the proceedings of the court. The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, alongside his party, filed the motion. At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to Atiku, Chief Chris Uche SAN, told the court that the motion filed on May 7 has been served on all the respondents. He, however, said that none of the respondents comprising the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have responded to the motion. In reaction, Tinubu, represented by a legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, promised to file his response. Similar undertakings were made by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud SAN, who stood for INEC, and Charles Edosomwen SAN, who represented the All Progressives Congress, APC. Based on the agreement of counsel, the Chairman of the court’s panel, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, fixed Thursday, May 18, for the hearing of the motion. Read the full article

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crimechannels · 1 year

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By • Olalekan Fagbade Tribunal: ‘It’s time for them to have sense’, Buhari’s former Minister knocks Atiku, Obi's supporters The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has lashed out at the opposition parties seeking the nullification of President Bola Tinubu’s victory during the February 25, 2023, presidential election, saying it is hightime they had “some senses” and embrace his (Tinubu’s) government. Keyamo said this in reaction to the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which struck out the case of Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and upheld the victory of Tinubu. According to The PUNCH, both Atiku and Obi rejected Wednesday’s judgment of the tribunal affirming the election of Tinubu. The Legal Adviser to the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun, vowed to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court. Also, Atiku’s Lead Counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, said he had received instructions from his client to file an appeal at the Supreme Court. He said “The judgment has been delivered but we have not received justice. Luckily, the law has given us leverage to go on appeal to the Supreme Court. We have instructions from our clients to go to the Supreme Court. The struggle continues.” The PEPT which began sitting at 9.40 am at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, ruled that the petition filed by Atiku and Obi and their parties had no merit and unanimously upheld Tinubu’s electoral victory in the February 25 presidential election. The five-member panel took turns to dismiss the petitions presented by Atiku and Obi against the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 1, 2023. The judgment was delivered by the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed But reacting to the judgement, Keyamo, in a post on X, said the tribunal judgment has proved him and others right. He wrote, “Today, Daniel has come to judgment: whether it is the fake US drug issue or the 25% FCT issue or the issue of IREV, EVERY SINGLE thing some of us have always shouted ourselves hoarse about during the campaigns and post-campaigns have been PROVED ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. “It only reassures some of us to always stand up for what we believe in, even if it appears to be against the temporary tide! Eventually, posterity will always vindicate the just! “Huge congratulations to @officialABAT for this judicial vindication from all the wicked lies against his person. Now, it is time for them to have some sense and embrace his government and national reconciliation!”

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crimechannels · 1 year

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By • Olalekan Fagbade President graduated in 1979, Chicago University replies Atiku Chicago State University (CSU) has again confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu graduated from the institution in 1979. It stated this in response to an application by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar. The United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, on August 9, ordered the university to respond to the application. The case, numbered 1:23-cv-05099, is before Judge Maldonado Gilbert. The university, in the response stated that it would “defer” to the “intervenor” Tinubu concerning objections to privacy and relevancy issues he raised on the application. It added: “Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, graduated from the University in 1979. “One of his political opponents, Abubakar, seeks discovery from the university of Tinubu’s student records and information about the dates and circumstances certain diplomas were issued by the university, asserting such discovery is pertinent to a Nigerian proceeding challenging Tinubu’s election earlier this year. “The student records Abubakar seeks from the university and the information Abubakar seeks the university to provide pursuant to a deposition subpoena concern Tinubu’s private educational records. “But since Tinubu has intervened to oppose this discovery, the university defers to Tinubu on the privacy issues implicated by Abubakar’s application.” Chigaco University said it also defers to Tinubu on whether any of the discovery information sought is appropriate under the section it was sought (28 U.S.C. §1782), including whether it is relevant to the pending Nigerian proceeding. “The university struggles to understand how – given that Tinubu did in fact graduate from the university in 1979 – Tinubu’s grades and other student records from the 1970s and date and signatory information on subsequently issued ceremonial diplomas could possibly have any bearing on a 2023 election challenge in a foreign country. “But the university is admittedly not familiar with the issues in the Nigerian proceeding or the evidentiary and other legal principles applicable therein. “Accordingly, the university defers to Tinubu – who obviously is familiar with these issues and directly involved in that foreign proceeding – to advance procedural and relevancy objections to the application.” According to Chicago State University, in a recent conference with Atiku’s counsel about the application, it was confirmed that the evidentiary phase of the Nigerian proceeding has concluded. Atiku’s lawyer, the university added, had insisted that the information sought in the application might be introduced in appellate proceedings to come. The university urged the court, when ruling on the Atiku’s application, to scrutinise both the actual status of the Nigerian proceeding and the likelihood that any discovery information provided by the university would in fact be considered in the proceeding. “The university reserves objections to the scope of the discovery sought by Abubakar,” the institution stated. It prayed that in the event the court decides to allow any discovery to proceed, the judge should only direct “limited, targeted discovery”. Chicago State University added: “As leave to issue any discovery has not yet been granted, and the court’s views on what, if any, discovery is appropriate here under 28 U.S.C. §1782 are not yet known, it is premature for the university to raise objections to the scope of the documents and information sought in Abubakar’s two subpoenas. “But, without limiting further objections, which the university expressly reserves, the university notes that the scope and relevancy of certain of Abubakar’s requests are clearly inappropriate. “For example, Abubakar’s document subpoena Request No. 5 seeks information on diplomas issued by

the University for a 44-year period (1979 to the present), and Abubakar’s deposition subpoena Topic No. 7 seeks information on the employment status and reasons for departure of a former employee in the University’s General Counsel’s Office. “Following this court’s ruling on the application, should any discovery be permitted, the University will meet and confer promptly and in good faith with Abubakar’s counsel to attempt to address all the university’s concerns.” The university’s response, dated August 23, was issued by its counsel, Michael D. Hayes, of Husch Blackwell LLP. The Presidential Election Tribunal had reserved judgment on Atiku’s petition challenging Tinubu’s victory. #Atikugradu1979 #ChicagoUniversity #PresidentTinubu

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crimechannels · 1 year

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By • Olalekan Fagbade JUST IN;Chicago University gives condition to release Tinubu’s academic records Chicago State University (CSU) has given a condition to release the credentials of President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu’s main opponent in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had filed an application for his rival’s academic record. Atiku had approached a US court at the northern district of Illinois in Chicago, for an order compelling the CSU to release the academic records of Tinubu. Documents sought by Atiku, through his counsel, Angela M. Liu, include record of his admission and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance including degrees, awards and honours attained by Tinubu at the university, among others. Atiku informed the court that subpoena was to test the truth and veracity of Tinubu’s assertions, adding that he is currently the President of Nigeria and is facing various court proceedings concerning his election and the authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University.” Reacting, the university, in a document seen by Daily Trust said it does not “understand” why Tinubu’s academic records “could possibly have any bearing on a 2023 election challenge in a foreign country”. However, it said once an order is granted by a court in the United States (US), Tinubu’s academic record would be made public. The document reads: “Pursuant to this Court’s Order dated August 9, 2023 (Doc. 15), Respondent Chicago State University (the “University), for its response to the 28 U.S.C. 1782 Application filed herein by Atiku Abubakar (“Abubakar), states and submits as follows: “The University Defers to Intervener Tinubu Concerning Privacy and Relevance Issues. “Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, graduated from the University in 1979. One of his political opponents, Abubakar, socks discovery from the University of Tinubu’s student records and information about the dates and circumstances certain diplomas were issued by the University, asserting such discovery is pertinent to a Nigerian proceeding challenging Tinubu’s election earlier this year. “The student records Abubakar seeks from the University via a documents subpoena (Doc.1-1) and the information Abubakar seeks the University to provide pursuant to a deposition subpoena (Dec. 1-2) concem Tinubu’s private educational records. But since Tinubu has intervened to oppose this discovery, the University defers to Tinubu on the privacy issues implicated by Abubakar’s Application. “Similarly, the University defers to Tinubu on whether any of the discovery information sought here is appropriate under 28 U.S.C. 41782, including whether it is relevant to the pending Nigerian proceeding. “The University struggles to understand how-given that Tinubu did in fact graduate from the University in 1979-Tinubu’s grades and other student records from the 1970s and date and signatory information on subsequently issued ceremonial diplomas could possibly have any bearing on a 2023 election challenge in a foreign country. “But the University is admittedly not familiar with the issues in the Nigerian proceeding or the evidentiary and other legal principles applicable therein. Accordingly, the University defers to Tinubu-who obviously is familiar with these issues and directly involved in that foreign proceeding-to advance procedural and relevancy objections to the Application. “In a recent conference with Abubakar’s counsel about the Application, Abubakar’s counsel confirmed that the evidentiary phase of the Nigerian proceeding has concluded, but that the information sought in the Application might be introduced in appellate proceedings to come. “The University respectfully requests that this Court, in ruling on the Application, scrutinize both the actual status of the Nigerian proceeding and the likelihood that any discovery information provided by the University would in fact be considered in the Nigeri

an proceeding. “The University Reserves Objections to the Scope of the Discovery Sought by Abubakar. Finally, in the event the Court determines to allow any discovery to proceed here, the University urges the Court to direct only limited, targeted discovery on the University. “As leave to issue any discovery has not yet been granted, and the Court’s views on what if any discovery is appropriate here under 28 U.S.C. $1782 are not yet known, it is premature for the University to raise objections to the scope of the documents and information sought in Abubakar’s subpoenas. “But without limiting further objections, which the University expressly reserves, the University notes that the scope and relevancy of certain of Abubakar’s requests are clearly inappropriate. For example, Abubakar’s document subpoena Request No. 5 seeks information on diplomas issued by the University for a 44-year period (1979 to the present), and Abubakar’s deposition subpoena Topic No. 7 seeks information on the employment status and reasons for departure of a former employee in the University’s General Counsel’s Office. “Following this Court’s ruling on the Application, should any discovery be permitted, the University will meet and confer promptly and in good faith with Abubakar’s counsel to attempt to address all the University’s concerns.” Tinubu had earlier filed a motion to quash subpoena before the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chicago, USA.

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crimechannels · 1 year

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By • Olalekan Fagbade The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Thursday struck out the illegal possession of firearms charge filed by the Federal Government against the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, to withdraw the two-count charge. Abubakar relied on Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. The defence through its lead counsel Mr. J.B. Daodu had argued that the prosecution could not withdraw the charge unless the government first purges itself of its disobedience to the court’s July 25 order granting Emefiele N20million bail. But Justice Oweibo, while condemning the government’s conduct, granted its application. He said: “The conduct of the prosecution has shown that it doesn’t respect the rule of law. “Of what benefit will it be to keep the file in the court’s docket when the prosecution has shown disrespect to the court? “Accordingly this charge is hereby struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.” The Nation reports that on Tuesday, the government applied to withdraw the charge, saying it had filed a 20-count charge against the embattled banker in Abuja. Emefiele has been in the custody of the State Security Services (SSS) (or self-styled Department of State Security) since June 10 following his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on June 9. Following his arraignment on July 25 on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, Justice Oweibo granted him N20m bail and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. But the DSS rearrested the bank chief after fighting off NCoS officials on the court’s premises. Following proceedings on August 10, the court fixed Tuesday last week to hear two pending applications filed by either party. The first application – filed by the Ministry of Justice on August 3 – sought leave to appeal against the N20m bail. The second – filed by Emefiele on August 8 – asked the court to stop the Federal Government from further prosecuting him on the charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition or any other charge. When the matter came up Tuesday last week, the DPP, made an oral application to the court seeking to withdraw the charges against Emefiele. He stated that the application was informed by emerging facts and for circumstances that need further investigation. #Breaking #Charges #Court #formercbngovernor

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hardynwa · 1 year

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Just in: Lawyer asks Appeal Court to stop Tinubu’s inauguration

A fresh motion on notice seeking to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated as Nigeria’s new President on May 29, 2023, has been instituted at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The fresh suit marked CA/CV/259/2023 is instituted by a Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential election and constitutional lawyer, Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru and his political party, Hope Democratic Party (HDP). Owuru, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, is praying the Court of Appeal in Abuja to prohibit President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from inaugurating the 2023 President-elect on May 29. The politician, who participated in the 2019 presidential poll on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) wants Buhari, the AGF and the INEC stopped from taking any further steps on the 2023 presidential election that produced Tinubu as winner. Owuru, who claimed to be adjudged constitutional winner of the 2019 presidential election predicated his grouse against inauguration of Tinubu or anybody else as successor to Buhari on the ground that he is the constitutionally adjudged winner of the 2019 election and has not spent his tenure as required by law. Among others, Owuru insisted that President Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition filed in 2019 in which he challenged the purported declaration of Buhari as the election winner. In his motion on notice marked CA/CV/259/2023 just filled at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Owuru applied for “An order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF and INEC, their servants, agents and privies to preserve and give due cognizance and abstain from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired Constitutional rights and mandate as winner of the 2019 presidential election.” He also applied for another order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organized and Superintended by Buhari on 29th May 2023 outside the adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election, subject of the pending appeal, remains and is viewed as an “interim place holder” administration pending the hearing and determination of his substantive appeal on constitutional interpretation thereof. Listed as respondents in the motion on notice are President Muhammadu Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd, respectively. The motion on notice filed on his behalf by Mr Odion Peter has been served on President Buhari and AGF through their counsel, Mrs Maimuna Lami Ashiru of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, while that of the INEC was served through the Head of Legal Department and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr S. O Ibrahim. DAILY POST observed that the motion is supported with an 8-paragraph affidavit praying the Court of Appeal for expeditious hearing before the inauguration of Tinubu. The affidavit deposed to by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Adebayo Anafowode and filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja expressed apprehension that Owuru’s suit against Buhari would be rendered nugatory unless given quick hearing. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit by the Court of Appeal. Read the full article

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hardynwa · 1 year

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Tribal leaders counsel Atiku, Obi, urges them never to go on exile

A group of tribal leaders drawn from across the country’s various ethnic nationalities has charged aggrieved presidential candidates in the 2023 general election not to go on exile because they lost out in a keenly contested exercise. The leaders specifically called out the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, respectively. They urged Atiku and Obi to remain as statesmen and contribute to national development. The group, which staged an advocacy work on Wednesday in Abuja on the platform of “The Natives”, however urged them to call their wards to order and kicked against calls for an Interim National Government, ING. Supreme Leader of ‘The Natives’, Olalekan Edwards, who led the protest, also declared support for actions taken by Nigeria’s defence, security and intelligence personnel to rein in sponsors of the ING plot. He said: “In the spirit of the commencement of the healing process and rebuilding the nation, as a patriotic appeal from the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, we call on Nigerians to give peace a chance.” They also called on “Christians, in the spirit of resurrection, to pray for the Nation and calling on Muslims to use the last 10 days of Ramadan to seek for God’s favour and mercy for our great nation. “We call on INEC to conduct and conclude the remaining supplementary elections without fear or favour in our joint bid to collectively move the nation forward progressively. “We are hearing rumours that some presidential candidates of various parties have started leaving the country. “This is a trademark of any politician who is just an opportunist. “We, however, call on our respected Labour Party candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi to please stay in the country because his talents, abilities and his contributions are needed in this country. “As a patriot, he does not need to go on exile. “We are also hearing that the PDP candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar will soon be on his way back to Dubai. “Whether he has gone or about to leave, we appeal to him to stay back because his valuable contributions are needed in this country. “We encourage all of them to stay back like President Muhammadu Buhari stayed back because this is the process of contributing to development of our democracy and Nigeria. “For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party has lost elections twice but this one he won through proper collaboration and we are asking all to work together for the growth of our beloved Nigeria and its democracy.” On the conduct of security personnel during and after the elections, the protesters said: “Today is April 12. We assert as follows: “Nigerian Military and the intelligence community deserve global applause. Our country has been awake to the emergence of political saboteurs reminiscent of June 12, 1993, roaming the nation in search of collaborators to truncate our 24 years of uninterrupted democracy. “These saboteurs by their open and sinister moves have been busted by the vigilance and verity of the Department of State Security. “We must at this juncture openly commend profusely the swift response of the DSS under their Director General, the Defense Headquarters, and the entire Intelligence community for their professionalism and commitment to their democratic obligation by alerting, and distancing the establishment from any complicity and readiness to frustrate any mischievous effort to truncate our much-cherished democracy.” Read the full article

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hardynwa · 1 year

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APC tells tribunal how Peter Obi not qualified to contest presidential poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, prayed the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja to dismiss the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, against the emergence of Sen. Bola Tinubu as president-elect in the February 25 election. The APC, the 4th respondent, urged the PEPC to reject the petition in its notice of preliminary objection marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023 and filed at PEPC’s Secretariat on Monday night by Thomas Ojo, a member of the party’s legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in Abuja. The party asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial cost on the grounds that it lacked merit and was frivolous. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obi, the 1st petitioner, and LP, the 2nd petitioner, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Sen. Kashim Shettima and APC as 1st to 4th respondents, respectively. The petitioners are seeking the nullification of the election victory of Tinubu and Shettima in the Feb. 25 presidential poll. While former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 6,984,520 votes in the election, Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes. Abubakar and PDP are also challenging the outcome of the poll. However, in the petition marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023 filed by Obi and LP’s lead counsel, Livy Ozoukwu, they contended that Tinubu “was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.” The petitioners claimed there was rigging in 11 states, adding that they would demonstrate this in the declaration of results based on the uploaded results. Obi and LP said INEC violated its own regulations when it announced the result despite the fact that at the time of the announcement, the totality of the polling unit results had yet to be fully scanned, uploaded and transmitted electronically as required by the Electoral Act. Among other prayers, the petitioners urged the tribunal to “determine that, at the time of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023, the 2nd and 3rd respondents (Tinubu and Shettima) were not qualified to contest the election. “That it be determined that all the votes recorded for the 2nd respondent in the election are wasted votes, owing to the non-qualification of the 2nd and 3rd respondents. “That it is determined that on the basis of the remaining votes (after discountenancing the votes credited to the 2nd respondent), the 1st petitioner (Obi) scored a majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and had not less than 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT and satisfied the constitutional requirements to be declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election. “That it be determined that the 2nd respondent (Tinubu), having failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the presidential election in the FCT, was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on February 25.” Responding, the APC prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that Obi, the 1st petitioner, lacked requisite locus standi to institute the petition because he was not a member of LP at least 30 days before the party’s presidential primary to be validly sponsored by the party. It said: “The 1st petitioner (Obi) was a member of PDP until May 24, 2022. “1st petitioner was screened as a presidential aspirant of the PDP in Apni 2022. “1st petitioner participated and was cleared to contest the presidential election while being a member of the PDP. “1st petitioner purportedly resigned his membership of PDP on May 24, 2022, to purportedly join the 2nd petitioner (Labour Party) on May 27, 2022. “2nd petitioner conducted its presidential primary on May 30, 2022, which purportedly produced 1st petitioner as its candidate, which time contravened Section 77(3) of the Electoral Act for him to contest the primary election as a member of the 2nd petitioner.” The party argued that Obi was not a member of LP at the time of his alleged sponsorship. The APC argued that “by the mandatory provisions of Section 77 (1) (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, a political party shall maintain a register and shall make the such register available to INEC not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congresses and convention.” It stated further that all the PDP’s presidential candidates were screened on April 29, 2022, an exercise in which Obi participated and was cleared to contest while being a member of the party. It argued that the petition was incompetent since Obi’s name could not have been in LP’s register made available to INEC at the time he joined the party. The APC equally argued that the petition was improperly constituted, having failed to join Atiku Abubakar and PDP, which were necessary parties to be affected by the reliefs sought. “By Paragraph 17 of the petition, the petitioners, on their own, stated that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came second in the presidential election with 6,984,520 votes as against the petitioners who came third with 6,101,533 votes; “At Paragraph 102 (ii) of the petition, the petitioners urged the tribunal to determine that the 1st petitioner scored the majority of lawful votes without joining Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the petition. “For the tribunal to grant prayer (iii) of the petitioners, the tribunal must have set aside the scores and election of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must be heard before his votes can be discountenanced by the tribunal,” it said. The party, therefore, argued that the tribunal lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain pre-election complaints embedded in the petition as presently constituted, among other arguments. The APC urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial cost as the same was devoid of any merit and founded on frivolity. Read the full article

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