Politics

The All Progressive Congress of Ekiti State has described a press statement issued by the state branch of the People’s Democratic Party in which it alleged that The State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has budgeted the sum of 1.2bn for his travelling expenses as the height of imbecility, adding that it has finally dragged itself into a level of shameless that will finally consume it and drive a wedge between it and the few members who still maintain any form of association with it.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the The Director of Media and Publicity to the party, Mr. Sam Oluwana, the party wondered why a party will descend so low to attack an individual who is trying so hard to clean up the gargantuan mess it (PDP) has left behind after four years of looting and mis-rule.

On the allegation of the N1.2 billion Naira travelling expenses. The APC spokesman said the statement did not come as a surprise.

“This is a party that was in the saddle for years in the state during which the people were pauperized to the extent of celebrating each time a “kongo of rice” was served to them”.

In its four years of misrule in the state, the PDP, through its prodigal governor, Ayo Fayose, turned the state and the people to beggars that picked crumbs from the table of self-styled master, whose profligate and corrupt practices were of constant embarrassment to the people of the state and Nigerians who are familiar with his moral defficiency.

The present administration is just settling down to find a way of settling seven month unpaid salaries of civil servants, while contracts awarded in dubious circumstances are being corrected.

According to reports in the debt management office, made available on its websites. Fayose took the debt profiles of the State from N30 billion in December 31, 2014 to N117.6 billion in December 31, 2017.

This is a party that found it impossible to pay salaries of workers for 8 months even when it was N18,000, now accusing a state governor of not paying N30,000 minimum wage, which implementation has not commenced in any state in the country.

Pretending that they are lovers of people, the party in the statement lamented that Dr. Fayemi should be shopping for funds to pay N30,000 minimum wage.

Mr. Oluwalana who doubled as the SSA (Party Matters) to the Ekiti State Governor, in the statement wondered while PDP is crying more than the bereaved.

He said “were they involved in the decision by Dr. Fayemi to pay outstanding salaries/allowances left behind by the PDP government?, were they involved in the decision that led Dr. Fayemi to pay the outstanding pension left behind by the PDP government? Did they force him to increase the pension paid from N10 Million to 100 million Naira monthly.

During their four year of mis-rule, their master who was inept and ignorant of the workings of a government treated Ekiti people and its workers with scorn and indignity in a brazen manner.

PDP lacks the moral justification and decency to now turn itself to an advocate of the masses, which they once abandoned and neglected.

The Ekiti State 2019 budget, which is a total of N129.8billion does not in anywhere show travelling expenses of all workers as anywhere near hN1.2billion. Like their stock in trade, they are bandying around fictitious figures. They have only succeeded in confusing themselves.

The people of Ekiti State have come to appreciate Dr. Fayemi as a trust worthy, prudent and dignified personality who sees himself as servant of people unlike the former PDP governor, who lord it over the people and strust them like the master of manor for the four least years.
It is as a result of his dignified and sensitive nature that endears him to his peers (fellow Governors) in the country that made them elect him as their Chairman.
On the issue of SUBEB, the state lost over 2billion Naira during the regime of Fayose due to his refusal to pay the counterpart funds for the project but laundered 500milion Naira paid by Dr. Fayemi during his first term in office.
Few days after his resumption as the State Governor, the same PDP claimed that Dr. Fayemi collected 31 Billion Naira as Paris Fund, now the figure has been lowered to 11 Billion Naira, just like they have lowered their political value in the estimation of the people of state with their latest ranting.

Another claim that Dr. Fayemi increased his security votes to N250 Billion Naira can only be the thinking of deranged set of people with blocked brain that lack capacity to think rightly.

Signed
Sam Oluwalana
Director, Media and Publicity
APC, Ekiti State.

The five-member Disciplinary Committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received a report and evidence of alleged anti party activities against its Deputy National Chairman (North) Lawal Shuaibu.

The Zamfara State Executive Committee of the APC submitted the report to the committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

The committee also received report against the former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, on his alleged role in the 2019 electoral misfortune of the APC in the state.

The Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Bakyasuwa, who led other officials of the party to the APC National Secretariat to submit the reports, made it available to journalists.

According to the report, the duo allegedly breached Article 21(a) 2014 of the APC Constitution as amended.

“We are going to prove that we are not just bragging, and we mean it, we have drawn the battle line with Yari’s group.

“We have realised that the two men were behind the misfortunes of the party, and we need to expel them to prepare for the challenges ahead,” he said.

The APC Zamfara Chairman, Surajo Garba, blamed the party’s misfortune on the action of the two men.

“By this letter and for the above reason, we the executive council of the APC in Zamfara have firmly resolved to expel Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Yari and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Lawal Shuaibu, from the party.

“The attitude and conduct of the personalities have brought APC in Zamfara to a state of disrepute and a clear flagrant disobedience to party,”he said.

NAN further reports that the five-member panel of the Supreme Court justices, in a unanimous judgement on May 25, declared that APC in Zamfara had no candidates in the 2019 general elections.

This, it explained, was because the party failed to conduct recognised primaries in accordance with party rules.

In the lead judgment by Justice Paul Galinji, the court held that all votes cast for the APC during the general elections in Zamfara were “wasted votes”.

He, therefore, declared that all political parties with the second highest votes in the elections and with the required spread, were elected to various elective positions in the state.

The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, however, stressed that the Supreme Court declaration amounted to imposing total strangers on the people of Zamfara.

He said the right thing the court should have done was to call for a repeat of the elections if the party fell short of electoral laws.

(NAN)

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has appointed a Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Senator Lawan approved the appointments of Babagana Muhammad Aji and Festus Adedayo as his Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity respectively.

The appointments were announced in a statement signed by Special Adviser to the Senate President on Administration, Betty Okoroh.

The appointments take immediate effect, the statement notes.

“The appointments were made based on merit, experience, track record and competency of Aji and Adedayo needed by the Senate President in executing his planned legislative agenda,” the statement added.

According to the statement, Mr Aji, who is currently an Administrative Coordinator of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Outreach Services, holds a Master Degree in Educational Planning and Administration, and another one in Public Administration both from University of Maiduguri.

He started his working career with the University of Maiduguri in 1987 as Administrative Assistant and rose to become the Registrar of the University in 1997.

He later joined the services of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where he was appointed as Director in 2016.

He is a member of several professional bodies including the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Registered Administrative Managers of Nigeria, and attended several workshops, trainings and conferences both locally and abroad

Mr Adedayo holds a Ph.D. in Political Communication from the University of Ibadan, and a member of Editorial Board of Tribune newspapers.

He was Special Adviser on Media to Oyo state governor between 2011 to 2015, Special Adviser on Media to Enugu state governor between 2004 to 2007 and Special Assistant to Enugu state governor on Public Policy Analysis between 2003 and 2004.

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has suspended the 16 Local Government Council Executive and Legislative Committees in line with the earlier recommendation of the State House of Assembly.

“Pursuant to the resolution of the Kwara State House of Assembly dated this 18th day of June, 2019, and Section 29 of the Kwara State Local Government Law Cap. K33, 2006, I, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the executive governor of Kwara State, hereby suspend the executive and legislative committees of all the Sixteen (16) Local Government Areas in the state for a period of six months or pending the outcome of the investigations into allegations of misappropriation of public funds by the Kwara State House or Assembly, whichever is earlier in time,” said a statement signed by the Governor on Tuesday.

The suspension came hours after the House of Assembly recommended the suspension of the local council executive and legislative committees.

The House had, in the resolution earlier in the day, urged the governor “to immediately suspend all the 16 Local Government Executive and Legislative Committees in the state pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations of misappropriation of public funds levelled against them so as not to jeopardise the process of investigation”.
Section 29 of the Kwara State Local Government Law Cap. K33, 2006 empowers the governor to suspend the chief executive of the local council for six months.

The Constitution, on the other hand, empowers the House of Assembly to investigate the local councils for alleged infraction and corruption.

Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) say the composition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet is an executive decision that does not require their input.

Atiku Baguda, governor of Kebbi state, made the comment at the end of a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Baguda said he and his colleagues were at Aso Rock to congratulate the president over the emergence of the new leaders of the national assembly.

Asked if the ministerial list was part of their discussions, he said: “No. It is an executive decision.”

“This morning Mr. President graciously granted audience to progressive Governors forum. We came to congratulate him on the national assembly elections and thank him for the confidence he has in the progressive Governors forum members who participated actively in all the processes that led to the emergence of Senator President Ahmad Lawan, Ovie Omo-Agege as deputy senate president, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker, and Hon. Ahmed Wase as deputy speaker,” he said.

“Furthermore, we used the opportunity to thank Mr. President for all he has been doing and all the successes recorded in the areas which he campaigned on, which are security, economy and accountability.

“We are quite happy with his support for states where close to N2 trillion was given to states in form of restructuring of loans, refunds on federal roads, refund for Paris Club, which has helped encouraged economic activities in the states, payment of salaries, payment of pensions, payment of gratuities and overall investment by infrastructural spending.

“We are also appreciative of increased investment in agriculture which has been because of conscious decision to support agriculture as a way out of economic challenges and provide economic growth.

“We also congratulate Mr. President that despite drop in income, the value for money that he insists upon has begun to pay off in terms of more security across the country even though some challenges still remain, he is working hard on that with sincerity.

“Last and not the least, we offer to work with Mr. President continuously to ensure that we increase economic performance, security of our country and social cohesion.

On what promises the party is making to Nigerians now that it is in full control at all levels, Bagudu said: “Well, we as progressive governors will push so that that legislation and cooperation between states and federal government will be better. We will be more active in e during investments in all areas that can provide employment and incomes rapidly will increase, we will collaborate more to ensure that security is enhanced particularly when it involves state borders.”

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed July 5 to deliver its judgment on the dispute arising from the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State.

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in the said election, Ademola Adeleke, had filed four separate appeals before the apex court to challenge the Abuja Division Court of Appeal’s decision affirming the All Progressives Congress and its Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of the poll.

A seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has already heard one of the appeals on Monday.

The decision in the particular appeal filed by Adeleke is to be binding on two other appeals, while the fourth appeal will be heard and a judgment delivered on it separately.

The seven man-panel rose after hearing the first appeal on Monday.

The panel is to return shortly to conclude the hearing on the remaining appeals.

Other members of the panel led by Justice Muhammad are Justices Kumai Akaahs, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Amiru Sanusi, Paul Galinje and Uwani Abba-Aji.

At the proceedings, the appellants’ lawyer, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), urged the apex court to uphold his clients’ appeal, upturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal and affirm that of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which had upturned Oyetola’s election and declared Adeleke as the true winner of the poll.

But Oyetola’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), and that for the APC, Olumide Olujinmi, also urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal.

The appellants are by their appeal challenging the May 9, 2019 majority judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which affirmed Oyetola’s victory at the September 2018 poll.

Dissatisfied with INEC’s declaration of Oyetola as the winner of the September 2018 governorship election, Adeleke and the PDP had filed a petition praying for an order nullifying the election and declaring them as the winner.

By a split decision of two-to-one, the three-man tribunal had in its verdict delivered on March 22, 2019 nullified the election of Oyetola and his party and declared Adeleke and his PDP as the duly elected.

But, on May 9, 2019, the Court of Appeal, in a four-to-one split decision of its five-man panel led by Justice Jummai Sankey, nullified the majority verdict of the tribunal.

Justice Sankey along with three other members of the panel, Justices Abubakar Yahaya, Isaiah Akeju, and Bitrus Sanga, adopted the majority judgments on the three appeals which went in favour of the APC and its candidate.

But another member of the panel, Justice George Mbaba, dissented from the majority judgments in the three appeals.

Justice Mbaba, went on to dismiss the three appeals filed by Oyetola, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission and upheld the majority judgment of the tribunal which declared Adeleke and the PDP as the true winner.

Both PDP and Adeleke appealed to the Supreme Court against the majority decision of the Court of Appeal.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, says he has confidence in God.

He made the statement while denying threatening to lead a street protest in the event that the election petition tribunal ruled against him and his party.

A tweet from one YouthSupportPDP had quoted Atiku as saying: “My Server Results Are Authentic and If judges frustrate the Justice we will take over the street. I will lead all Nigerians in a massive protest that mankind have never witness before.”

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“My Server Results Are Authentic and If judges frustrate the Justice we will take over the street. I will lead all Nigerians in a massive protest that mankind have never witness before”. —Atiku Abubakar

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But the presidential candidate blamed the statement on “mischief makers who are out to mar my pro-democratic record”, and lay the groundwork on false charges against him.

“I wish to emphatically state that such a statement did not emanate from Atiku Abubakar or his privies. It is the work of mischief makers who want to mar his spotless pro-democratic record and lay the groundwork for their threatened actions against him on false charges of being a threat to national security,” Atiku said in a statement Paul Ibe, his spokesman, issued on his behalf.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar believes in the Rule of Law and in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his almost four decades in politics, he has never taken action or spoken words against democracy and will not start now.

“Atiku and his team have confidence in God and thus call on those bent on mischief to have the fear of God and retrace their steps. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. The culture of fear being created now cannot rein in our democracy. Nigeria and Nigerians have a consistent history of outlasting tyranny and will continue to do so by the grace of God.”

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has described as misrepresentation of facts, the response of Muhammadu Sanusi II, emir of Kano, to a query the state government issued to him.

The administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, had asked Sanusi to respond to the accusation that N3.4 billion was misappropriated under his watch.

In his response, the monarch said he is not the accounting officer of the emirate and made it clear that he did not inherit up to N2 billion.

But in a report, Muhuyi Magaji, chairman of the agency, said there was evidence against Sanusi.

The report, with reference number PCAC/GEN/6/VOL.I, dated June 11, 2019, was addressed to the secretary to the state government.

Part of the report read: “In furtherance to the Commission’s earlier communication No. PCAC/GEN/6/V.I, dated 31st May, 2019, on the above subject matter and the unfolding events, the Commission deemed it necessary to make some clarifications as follows:-

“It is imperative to state categorically that, the Commission’s investigation is on alleged misappropriation and questionable expenditures but not on the funds left behind by the Late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, and we still maintain our stance.

“In the cause of investigation we undertook an analysis of the main Account belonging to Kano Emirate Council and domicile at First Bank with Account No. 2005888452 starting from the era of the Late Emir to enable the Commission have an idea of how the money is being managed.”

According to the report, there were 783 activities bordering on withdrawals, transfers and placements from January 2, 2013, and June 6, 2014, during the time of the late emir.

“As from 2nd January 2013 to 13th April, 2017, the opening balance is N432,338,412.98. Total credit made in the account during this period was N6,784,146,335.73 while the total debit during the period under review is N7,209,035,163.09,” it said.

However, it added that, “the closing balance as at April, 2017, is N7,449,585.62″.

It said on February 13, 2014, and February 26, 2014, payments were made to Philko Ltd, the company said to have undertook the construction of Ado Bayero Royal City via Inter Bank transfers of N776,159,519.50.

“There were transfers of N388,079,759.75, N338,079,759.75 and N50,000,000.00 made on February 13, 2014, and February 26, 2014, respectively; making the total quoted figures for Philko Ltd,” it said.

The report also alleged that during the period, fixed deposit placements were made to the tune of N581,884,729.54 (placement and rollovers) while net withdrawals on some engagements both cash and withdrawal stood at N1,056,533,728.31.

“In summary, the total withdrawal made from the Account under the Late Emir was N2,414,577,977.35, subtracting this amount from total debit on the account which is N7,209,035,163.09,” it said..

“It is evidently clear that the current Emir is responsible for the expenditures to the total sum of N4,794,457,185.74 from the Emirate Council Account domicile in First Bank Plc.”

Similarly, it alleged that all the expenditures made by the emirate council were either based on the approval or instructions of Sanusi.

The commission attached copy of a payment voucher in respect of one of the withdrawals to buttress its claim, which read “Being payment to the above named in respect of making special prayers for peace as directed by H.H. Emir of Kano respectively.

“Therefore, any claim that the Emir is not the accounting officer of the Kano Emirate Council is a deception and a misrepresentation of facts.

“Specifically, the reason of our recommendation for the suspension apart from obstruction of investigation which formed the basis, investigation further reveals that Rufa’i Buhari (senior accountant) usually made cash withdrawals directly from the account and change it to dollars on behalf of the emir.

“Sometimes direct transfers from the account are made to a bureau de change belonging to one Jazuli Sani who was said to have died.

“The Commission still maintain the allegation on unappropriated, seemingly personal expenditures, making the total sum of questionable expenditures uncovered by this investigation to the tune of N3,432,090,797.94 only.”

The Dein of Agbor Kingdom Delta State, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchuku (Keagborekuzi I) has urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to foster greater peace between Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Dein Ikenchuku, who arrived Abeokuta from Republic of Benin where he was conferred with the title of Chancellor of a University, told reporters in Abeokuta that Nigerians needed peace and harmony now than ever before.

The highly revered traditional ruler, who became the world’ youngest monarch at the gae of two years and four montgs in 1981, visited Obasanjo at his country home in Ota to discuss the issue of peace between Governor Ganduje and Emir Sanusi II, on Thursday.

He hinted a similar visit would be paid to President Muhammadu Buhari, commending him for re-appointing his subject and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emeifele, for another tenure.

He said: “I am not trying to gain anything from these visits but to help our great country. We want peace, unity and be a fruitful country. We must get back to the good times of this country. I will also try to get to the governors too, we must just get back that is my concern now. Things are not just going right.

“Let me use this opportunity to commend and thank Mr. President for giving us back for the very first time, a two-term CBN governor, Godwin Emeifele, a worthy son of Agbor. I felt it would have been very dangerous if he had been changed at this sensitive time of our economy situation. So, I have to thank Mr. President for that.”

He noted that Obasanjo is sensitive to the wishes and pains of Nigerians, including the northerners and called for dialogue between President Muhammad Buhari and the elder statesman.

Both of them, he said, had the competence and qualities to achieve peace and overcome the socio-economic challenges of the country.

He said: “Obasanjo remained an elder statesman that is committed to the progress, peace and unity of this country, irrespective of positions in certain quarters. His views have not changed about Nigeria even as at today that I met him.

“I have known Baba now for almost 20 years. He’s the President I came to know when I came back to Nigeria in 2000. He’s the President that I admire.

“Some people say so many things about this old man, which I found to be very untrue. All the negative things they say about him, even before I met him, I found out they were lies.

“Obasanjo is somebody that is very sure of his position. He’s somebody that is confident of who he is and where he is going. But at the same time, Obasanjo is somebody that is very humble. So we should not be abusing our elders.

“Whether anybody likes it or not, Obasanjo is an elder and a statesman, who has served as Head of this country and led in different capacities. This is somebody that is well respected by the international communities too.

“So, if somebody with this kind of experience and knowledge is saying something, the Nation should listen. We have a problem in this country and that is how we dialogue, which is sometimes abrasive and disrespectful and that is not how brothers and sisters should be living because we are brothers and sisters. Obasanjo, is very sensitive to both the wishes and pains of the North as well as we here in the South.

“These two portions of the country neither can do without each other. We are one people. God put us together in this country and we need to sit down and solve this problem together.

“The two could still continue a dialogue that those around them would not cause any kind of freezing in their relationship. They both need each other to be able to help steer this country forward.”

Rochas Okorocha, senator representing Imo west, says “Igbo presidency” does not exist.

Speaking with journalists after he was sworn into the senate on Thursday, the lawmaker said the south-east would have to work hard to earn the presidency.

The former governor had been asked if there is the possibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) giving the 2023 presidential ticket to the Igbo.

According to him, democracy is about “the people and south-east alone cannot make themselves president.”

“Power is not given, power is taken. The south-east cannot just fold their arms and expect power to be given to them just because you want power. Power does not go with sentiment some of the times, it’s on issues on ground,” Okorocha said.

“So you cannot be talking about Igbo presidency, it doesn’t exist. We may be talking about Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction but that depends on what other geo-political zones think about the issue.

“For me, what is important is let power be given to somebody who has something upstairs who can put food on the table of common man irrespective of religion or where you come from.”

The former governor also said it would be “very surprising” to see the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appeal the verdict compelling it to issue him a certificate of return.

“Duress means using mild or excessive force to compel someone to do something he or she does not want to do,” he said.

“How would you have done that in a returning hall where you have police, SSS and party agents? And in my own person walking with gun or machete asking them to write result on my behalf.

“That didn’t happen. I think there is more to duress than duress itself.”

In the build-up to the last general election, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), had asked the Igbo to endorse President Muhammadu in order to get the presidency in 2023.

Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring MKO Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Last year, Buhari declared June 12 as Democracy Day and also conferred a post-humous award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola.

He also apologised to his family, on behalf of the federal government, for his death in the struggle to reclaim his mandate.

The military junta of Ibrahim Babaginda had annulled the 1993 election adjudged as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history.

On Wednesday, the president also named the Abuja national stadium after Abiola.

Reacting to this, Fayose, a critic of the president, took to his Twitter account to knock Obasanjo and hail the president.

“Honouring MKO Abiola by Buhari is to Obasanjo’s shame. It remains a sore-point of his political history that because of ego, Obasanjo, who’s the greatest beneficiary of the June 12, 1993 struggle failed to honour his kinsman, MKO Abiola. So, I commend President Buhari,” he tweeted.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it does not have a server where results of the presidential election were uploaded.

The electoral commission was reacting to the request of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP and Atiku had asked the tribunal to compel INEC to allow them inspect smart card readers and the server.

The opposition party and its candidate are challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the presidential election that held in February.

At the tribunal on Thursday, Yunus Usman, counsel to INEC, said the party was asking something they did not have.

“They are asking us to bring something we do not have,” the lawyer said.

Usman asked the tribunal to strike out the application.

Also, counsels of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Buhari asked the tribunal to strike out the application of the PDP.

They argued that they could not prove the existence of a server.

The electoral commission said Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat the former vice-president who secured 11, 262,978.

But Atiku in his application claimed that he polled 18,356,732 votes while Buhari secured 16,741,430, citing INEC’s server.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday renamed the National Stadium Abuja to Moshood Abiola stadium as mark of honour to the late winner of the June 12 1993, Presidential Election.

This was announced on Wednesday by the president while delivering his 2019 June 12 Democracy Day celebration at the Eagles Square Abuja.

It would be recalled that Abiola had run for the presidency in 1993, but the election results were annulled by former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, popularly called IBB.

But Buhari, on the 6th of June 2018 recognised the election and awarded Abiola posthumously with Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) – award meant for Presidents.

According to Buhari, the country only needs to get its acts together because it has all it takes to become a world power.

Buhari was optimistic that Nigeria can do it, since nations like China, India and Indonesian achieved the feat, saying that Nigeria’s economy is expected to grow 2.7% this year. “Nigeria can do it,” he said.

He noted that his administration has made remarkable progress in the fight against corruption, improving economy and securing the nation in the past four years.

The president also assured that his administration in the next four years would consolidate on the achievements recorded in the past four years.

He urged state governments and the private sector to play their own part, as the Federal Government cannot develop the nation alone.

Buhari said that his administration will not tolerate any form of attack and violence against Nigerians in any part of the country, noting that the country’s unity is unshakable.

“Join me in this journey of rebuilding our nation,” he added

Former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, says the recognition of June 12 as National Democracy Day by President Muhammad Buhari indirectly recognised MKO Abiola as a past president of Nigeria.

Osoba said this during the celebration of the first National Democracy Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the Day was significant as past presidents from 1999 had refused to recognise the day or Abiola’s sacrifices for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said that the late Abiola, who refused to surrender his mandate, suffered and died in the struggle for democracy for the country.

“I have lot of very bad memories about June 12, as a lot of people lost their lives for the struggle, a lot of families also suffered incurable damages, also a lot of people sold their properties to survive.

“I also suffered in the hands of Seargent Rogers, who made two attempts to kill me and I was in hiding for almost a year, along others who paid the price.

“I also recalled that when I was a governor with a former president from my state and all efforts that we should do something to immortalise Abiola did not make any impact.

“You can therefore see why we are grateful to President Muhammad Buhari who recognises the significant of June 12.

“The significance is the full price paid by Abiola that is making us enjoy democracy that is 20 year old now.

“One of my own benefited from Abiola sacrifice to become president but here is Buhari who indirectly accepted that Abiola was once past president of this country, so those sacrifices that we also suffered are no more in vain,” he said.

He commended the President, saying that democracy have come to stay in Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is not enough to declare June 12 as Democracy Day as many Nigerians are hungry.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed into law, the bill to make June 12 Democracy Day, in honour of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election.

But Atiku said June 12 demands something bigger than “merely declaring it a Democracy Day”.

“It is not enough to declare June 12 a work-free day when a disproportionate number of citizens are not sure of where their next meal will come from and when the sanctity of their lives is not guaranteed,” he said.

“It is not enough to declare June 12 a work-free day when freedom of the press, and of speech, fundamentals of democracy is being assailed.”

He said June 12 remained a threshold in Nigeria’s national life, urging the people, to do a soul-searching.

“The significance of the celebration of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election is a reminder of our history to becoming a democratic country,” he said.

“On this day 26 years ago, Nigeria voted for democracy against the jackboot notion of oppressive totalitarianism.

“The collective decision by Nigerians to elect democracy on that day was not to aggrandise the political elite or to replace military dictatorship with civilian autocracy. No! The choice of democracy was to restore power to the people.”

Atiku cited disrespect for the rule of law and disregard of court orders on issues that border on fundamental human rights as some of the challenges which ought to be addressed.

Atiku said as a “compatriot who stood shoulder-to-shoulder” with MKO Abiola whom he described as the icon of the June 12 struggle, he knew first-hand that the choice of HOPE as his campaign slogan wasn’t “merely a populist tokenism.”

He said Abiola did not mean to deceive Nigerians with a hope he could not deliver upon.

“Today, the minimum requirement for any June 12 convert is to demand of them wherever they may be – either in government or in private lives – to deliver on the promises they made to the people,” he said

“June 12 is about the political leadership having the focus to retool the Nigerian economy. It is about having the skills to create wealth and jobs for the teeming mass of unemployed. It is not about the inclination for shared pains; it is about shared prosperity.

“As we celebrate yet another episode of the June 12 struggle, the desire for hope is more preponderant today much as it was 26 years ago. So, for all true lovers of democracy, let us keep the hope alive.”

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the ruling party has no reason not to deliver on its electoral promises.

Oshiomhole was speaking on Tuesday following the emergence of the party’s preferred candidates as winners of the national assembly leadership poll.

The candidates anointed by the party and President Muhammadu Buhari swept the polls which held on June 11, at the national assembly.

Ahmad Lawan, erstwhile majority leader, emerged senate president, after polling 79 votes to defeat Ali Ndume, who got 28 votes — both men are from the APC.

For the deputy senate president position, Ovie Omo-Agege, Delta-central senator, polled 68 votes to defeat Ike Ekweremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past occupier of the position, who had 37 votes.

In the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila beat Umaru Bago, both of the APC, to emerge speaker while Idris Wase of the ruling party was elected deputy speaker of the house — unopposed.

The APC had wanted Lawan as the third citizen in 2015 but ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki manoeuvered his way and emerged as senate president.

Like Lawan, Gbajabiamila was the preferred candidate of the APC in 2015 but Yakubu Dogara, who was then of the APC, had teamed up with the PDP to defeat him.

The executive and legislative arms had a severed relationship in the 8th assembly with the presidency blaming the legislature for some of its failures.

Speaking after the polls, Oshiomhole said the party will now have no excuse not to deliver on its three cardinal promises — security, anti-corruption and improved economy.

According to him, now, “we can’t say we are being blocked by the parliament”.

He said it was the “mischief” of 2015 the party was trying to correct, “and I am happy that it has been settled.”

“Nigerians with their eyes open gave the APC the executive, they also gave us overwhelming majority in the two arms of the National Assembly,” Oshiomhole said.

“And I think in doing that they also expect that this time around, APC would have no excuse not to deliver.

“We can’t say we are being blocked by the parliament; parliament is ours and those who don’t believe in change cannot be entrusted with the challenge of managing the change.

“And that is why I said we must give the position of responsibility to those who believe in our change agenda. So today, that has been translated.

“We now have no excuse not to deliver on security, not to deliver on the economy and not to deliver on prosperity because that is what the ordinary man voted for and they are our constituents.

“You can just imagine how I feel like a mother who has been carry babies and now, we are on the verge of delivering twins in the two chambers of National Assembly.

“So we must exercise our rights with a sense of responsibility and the ultimate objective must be to what extent does these actions impact on the welfare of the Nigerian people.”

The Federal High Court on Monday declined to restrain the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from implementing its recent guidelines on local government funds.

The judgment by John Tsoho of the Abuja Division marked yet another setback to the nation’s 36 governors in their effort to keep control of local government finances in their respective states.

In a guideline that took effect on June 1, the NFIU directed banks not to honour transactions in the joint accounts of state and local governments. It said such accounts should only be used to distribute allocations to accounts of local governments directly.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) recently sued the NFIU, saying the directive was illegal because it contradicted the Constitution.

The Constitution prescribed joint ownership of account between a state and all local government areas under it, but there have been claims that the governors have been mismanaging the funds by bullying local authorities into silence.

At the resumed hearing on the matter on Monday, Mr Tsoho declined to allow the governors continue to draw funds from local government accounts until the matter had been concluded by the court, which could take several months or even years.

Further hearing on the matter could not continue on Tuesday, after the lead lawyer for the governors, Lateef Fagbemi, failed to appear in court on excuses that he was handling another matter at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Although there was an initial agreement by all parties to wait for Mr Fagbemi, who had promised to appear in court before noon, the court eventually adjourned the matter when he did not show up.

A further hearing had been adjourned till October 23 for all applications, including one challenging the court’s jurisdiction, to be heard.

The NFIU had on May 6 issued ‘Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria,’ which sought to stop governors from tampering with funds meant for local government areas forthwith.

Despite the stiff opposition by the governors, including several meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari, the guidelines took effect from June.