The Director of Works, University of Port Harcourt, Frank Ogali, has died in an auto crash.

His death occurred a few days after the university announced the demise of its fifth Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nimi Briggs at 72.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sam Kpenu, who confirmed the incident, said Ogali died on Wednesday night at the Olobo Premier College U-turn of the East-West road, close to UNIPORT’s main gate 

Kpenu said: “Barely two days after the demise of the 5th vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs, another tragedy struck again.

“This time is the death of the Director of Works and Services, Engr Frank Ogali.

He died late last night in an auto crash at the Olobo Premier College U-turn of the East-west road, close to the university’s main gate.His remains have been deposited at the mortuary. 

“Ogali was a jolly good fellow and friend to all. Since he took over the affairs of the Works and Services department, there has been tremendous improvement in the quality of services rendered to the university”.

END 

Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has asked the Federal Government to suspend the conduct of the National Population Census until all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are returned to their ancestral homes.

Ortom made the call Thursday when he received a delegation from the Middle Belt Forum led by its President, Dr Bitrus Pogu at Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

The Governor stated that close to two million indigenes of Benue State were in IDP camps and would not be counted because they need to be in their localities before they can participate in the exercise.

Ortom stated that what the Federal Government must do before carrying out the census was to ensure adequate security for the IDPs in Benue and elsewhere in the country to go back to their homes to be counted.

“I want to say that the Federal Government should suspend the issue of census because it looks like the proposed census is coming with an agenda. 

‘’So until they are able to restore security and all our IDPs go back to their ancestral lands to give all of them opportunities to be counted in the homes of birth. Because I understand from the National Population Commission that those to be counted must be counted in their localities,” the Governor said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers States are more prone toflooding this year. 

The agency explained that the flooding which would be due to the rise in sea level and tidal surge may negatively impact agriculture, human settlements, and transportation in the States. 

The agency, while calling for early warning action to mitigate the impact of the predicted flood, said this year’s flood may be more than what was witnessed last year. 

According to NEMA, last year’s floods resulted in 665 deaths and injured 3,181 persons nationwide. 

A total of 4,476,867 persons were also affected; out of the affected, 2,437,411 persons were displaced, about 944,989 farmlands were damaged and 355,986 houses were partially or totally destroyed by floods. 

These were contained in Abuja on Thursday by the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed during the official presentation of the 2023 Climate-related Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies. 

Speaking during the presentation, Ahmed said the document is expected to assist responsible organizations carry out preparedness and mitigation actions to safeguard lives, livelihoods, properties, and the environment against hydrometeorological hazards in Nigeria during the 2023 rainy season and beyond. 

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He also said letters have been written to the 36 States governments and the FCT administration as part of measures to alert them of the predicted flood. 

He said: “This year’s forecast has indicated that there is a high risk of coastal flooding due to expected rise in sea level and tidal surge that may negatively impact agriculture, human settlements, and transportation in Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers States. 

“Flash and urban floods are also forecasted over many cities and towns due to poor drainage systems and the lack of compliance with town planning and environmental regulations. 

“The forecasts have provided many insights into what to expect ahead of this rainy season. The reality is that this year may witness floods similar to what occurred last year if not more.” 

On steps taken to mitigate the impact of the flood, Ahmed said: “Since the release of the forecasts, NEMA has continued to engage relevant stakeholders to explore ways to mitigate against the risk of the predicted floods and other related hazards throughout the 2023 rainy season. 

“In NEMA, we believe that early warning must be matched with early action. Therefore, we have written letters and attached this document for dispatch to all the 36 State Governments and the FCT Administration with specific mention of LGAs at risk and actions that are expected to be taken by responsible authorities. 

“We have also produced flood risk maps of areas at risk and uploaded them on our official website and social media platforms for greater access by the public. 

“NEMA has also commenced public sensitization through the placement of flood early warning jingles, special discussions, and advocacy across the states. 

“It  is important to emphasize that it is our desire that early warning alerts are matched with appropriate early actions, especially at the community level.” 

NEMA boss urged State governments that are yet to establish Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in their areas to do so. 

He also called the public to imbibe attitudinal change towards disaster risk reduction and take seriously all advisories released by relevant authorities. 

The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Mansur Matazu said the trend of climate change is alarming, hence the need to take it seriously. 

Matazu while quoting data from a UNICEF report in 2022 said climate change and its impacts are no longer fairy tales but they are here for us to see. 

“According to a UNICEF report in 2022, more than 2.5 million people in Nigeria needed humanitarian assistance, of which 60 percent were children, who were also at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning, and malnutrition due to the most severe flooding witnessed by Nigeria in the past decade. That was quite an alarming statistic if you ask me.” 

The President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reminded the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election that he has always lost in his bid to lead the country since 1993.

Tinubu asked Atiku not to see his loss at the last election as strange, arguing that it would have been a miracle for the PDP and its candidate to win in view of the balkanization of the party before and during the election.

He noted that “the 1st petitioner (Atiku) has been consistently contesting and losing successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993, whether at the party primary election level or at the general election; including 1993, when he lost the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary election to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola; 2007, when he lost the presidential election to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; 2011, when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary election to President Goodluck Jonathan; 2015, when he lost the APC primary election to President Muhammadu Buhari; 2019, when he lost the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari; and now, 2023, when he has again, lost the presidential election to the 2nd respondent (Tinubu). 

“It was/is not a surprise and/or not by accident that the electorate rejected the 1st petitioner at the polls of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023,” Tinubu said.

He noted that Atiku was without a stable political platform and has lost majority of his key supporters, in view of his habit of jumping from one political party to another.

Tinubu equally noted that Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s candidate fueled the crisis in the party, resulting in five of its sitting governors resolving to work against him and ensure he lost.

‘The emergence of the 1st petitioner as the presidential candidate of the 2nd petitioner led to irreconcilable hostilities within the ranks of the 2nd petitioner, causing the emergence of a group of governors, known all over the country as the G-5 Governors – Rivers, Oyo, Enugu, Abia and Benue, who opposed the 1st petitioner and vowed to mobilise their people against him. 

“While the 1st petitioner contested the presidential election of 2019 with President Muhammadu Buhari under a fairly cohesive PDP with Peter Gregory Obi as his running mate and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as one of his supporters, the same Peter Gregory Obi broke away from the PDP to join the Labour Party to contest the presidential election of 25th February, 2023, while Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso also broke away from PDP to contest the presidential election on the ticket of the New Nigeria People’s Party. 

“While Peter Obi polled a total number of 6,101,533, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso polled 1,496,687.

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“Before the balkanisation of the 2nd petitioner, the South-Eastern states of Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra used to be controlled by the 2nd petitioner, but at the presidential election of 25th February, 

2023, they all went the way of the LP.

“At a ress conference addressed by the 1st petitioner on or about 2nd March, 2023, he admitted the negative impact of the balkanisation of the 2nd petitioner on the fortune of his election, particularly, the exit of Peter Gregory Obi from the party,” he said.

Tinubu referred to a publication in the Punch newspaper of 3rd March, 2023, where Atiku was quoted to have stated that: “It is a fact that Peter Obi took our votes from the South-East and South-South, but that wouldn’t make him the President. You need votes from everywhere.”

The President-elect said these in his response to the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), in which they are praying to be declared the winner or for the court to order a rerun.

Tinubu’s response was filed on Wednesday night by his team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

He faulted the competence of the petition, describing it as not only frivolous, but an abuse of the process of court, the PDP having earlier filed a suit at the Supreme Court, through some of its governors, demanding the cancellation of the election.

He argued that the PDP and Atiku cannot maintain two cases on the same issue in different courts at the same time.

Tinubu noted that on February 28, the PDP through its governors in 

Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto states filed a suit marked: SC/CV/354/2023 at the Supreme Court, demanding among others, that the February 25 presidential election be cancelled.

‘The plaintiffs attacked INEC for not following its Manual and 

Regulations in the conduct of the election, and also complained 

of glitches, which is also the thrust of their petition.

“While the originating summons (in the suit before the Supreme Court) was filed on 28th February, 2023, this petition was filed on 21st March, 2023.

“The petitioners herein, through themselves and/or their proxies filed the originating summons at the Supreme Court, before filing this petition.

“The petitioners are maintaining two processes in respect of the same subject and/or complaint of theirs, against the conduct of 

the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023.

“This latter petition is abusive of the originating summons filed at the Supreme Court and is liable to be dismissed in limine,” he said.

Tinubu, who insisted that he recorded more than the constitutional required geographical spread at the election, faulted the petitioners interpretation of Section 134 of the Constitution in relation to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that “the petitioners’ interpretation of the provisions of section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) is strange, disingenuous (with respect) and contrary to the clear letters and spirit of the said provisions and the entire Constitution as a whole.

“Nigeria’s democracy is not based on an Electoral College jurisprudence, particularly as it relates to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“There is no exclusive obligation that for a valid return from a presidential election in Nigeria, a candidate 

must score 25percent of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“The voters in Abuja are not superior to voters in any other part of Nigeria such that a candidate is mandated to score 25percent in Abuja without such similar status for other states of the federation.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) does not create special voting rights for voters in Abuja or allocate preferential voting rights either to them or to the FCT.

“The mathematical variables in Section 134 of the Constitution are two, to wit, one quarter of votes cast and two-thirds of all the states and the FCT, Abuja. The mathematical indices are conjunctive.

“If petitioners’ position was correct, both one quarter and two-thirds will be applied to FCT, Abuja separately. However, because petitioners know that such will result in an absurd situation, they have chosen to apply only the mathematical requirement of one quarter to Abuja to the exclusion of the 2nd mathematical element of two-thirds.

“In terms of the grammatical and syntactic construct of Section 134 of the Constitution, the provision for two-thirds is more proximate to Abuja than one quarter and petitioners’ failure to relate same to Abuja demonstrates their deliberate attempt to misrepresent the Constitution. 

“The provisions of the Constitution are meant to apply to the FCT as if it were one of the states of the federation and not an entity superior to the other states of the Federation. 

“The Federal Capital Territory Act further reinforces respondent’s assertion that the FCT is for all intents and purposes, to be treated as a state and not 

superior to a state particularly when construing legislations.

“The variables established by the Constitution for the purpose of determining one-quarter of the total number of votes cast in two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT, is 37 

(that is, the 36 states of the federation plus/and/conjunctively with the FCT).

“The 2nd respondent scored at least 25percent in not less than 29 states of the federation, which is far above two-thirds of the states and the FCT and is thus not inhibited by any constitutional provision from assuming office as President of the  Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Arithmetically, two-thirds of 37 is 24.6 which is below the number of states wherein the 2nd respondent scored at least one quarter of the total number of votes cast at the election.”

Tinubu also faulted the competence of the petition on the grounds that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) were excluded despite the fact that the petitioners were contesting the results from the states won by LP and NNPP.

“The petitioners complained about outcome of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Plateau and Lagos states.

“The 2nd respondent (Tinubu) was not declared as the overall winner in any of the states aforementioned.

“Mr. Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party was declared the overall winner of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Plateau and Lagos states, while Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party was declared winner of the election in Kano State.

“None of Labour Party, Peter Gregory Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and New Nigeria People’s Party  has been joined as a party to this petition.

“The 2nd respondent cannot be made willy-nilly to defend any infraction allegedly committed in any of the states afore-mentioned.

“The petitioners are querying the result of elections in all the states where they won the election, including but not limited to Adamawa, 

Bauchi, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Gombe, Yobe, Sokoto, Osun, Kebbi and Katsina states, without making themselves  co-respondents to the petition; whereas, under Section 

133(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, a party whose election is being challenged shall be made a respondent.”

As against the non-compliance claim by the petitioners, Tinubu said his election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is valid and was conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He added that his election and return is not invalid as alleged by the petitioners, adding that  his declaration and return as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is valid and 

in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

Tinubu stated that INEC substantially complied with all the procedures highlighted in the Electoral Act, as well as its Manual and Regulations for the conduct of the election.

He added that not only did INEC  conduct the election in compliance with the principles of the Electoral Act, INEC Regulations and Manuals, it also lived up to its statutorily supported representations, undertakings and assurances. 

“As such, the 1st respondent rightly declared the 2nd respondent as the winner of the Presidential election of 25th February, 2023, having won a majority of lawful votes cast at the election and meeting all constitutional requirements to be returned as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

In faulting the petitioners’claim of election process manipulation, he argued that since the had agents in all the polling units nationwide, “they had all opportunities to raise any complaint, but they could not raise any such complaint because there was none. 

“They only began to fabricate and manufacture complaints when it became obvious that they had woefully lost the election. 

“Blaming the inability to immediately transmit the result electronically is totally an afterthought and devoid of any substance at all.”

In urging the court to reject  the reliefs being sought in the petition by Atiku and his party, Tinubu said he was elected by majority of lawful votes at the presidential election of 25th February, 2023 and that his election is lawful, legitimate, legal, constitutional, due, and evinces the wishes of the Nigerian electorate, 

as demonstrated through the ballot box.

He added that his  return by INEC was lawful, legitimate, unhampered by any impediment and that he has satisfied the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution.

Tinubu stated that he was qualified to contest the election and that he was far more qualified to contest the said election than the 1st petitioner (Atiku).

“The 1st petitioner did not score the majority of lawful votes cast at the election, and did not also meet the constitutional threshold under and by virtue of Section 134(2) of the Constitution, as he could only 

muster 25percent of the votes in 21 states.

“The order seeking a runoff election is misplaced and misguided, as the 2nd respondent has satisfied all the requirements of the law and the Constitution, and has been rightfully returned as the winner of the 

presidential election of 25th February, 2023, by the 1st respondent.

“Shorn of all hype, hyperbole, grandstanding and frivolities, the petition has no substance in fact, logic and law, as well as disclosing no reasonable cause of action. 

“It deserves to be summarily dismissed, as same constitutes a crass abuse of the judicial process,” he said.

Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have nabbed a suspected arms and ammunition supplier to bandits terrorising parts of Kaduna State with a large quantity of ammunition. 

The arms courier was said to have been arrested around Polewire in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state, on his way to deliver the ammunitions to bandits.

Kaduna Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the development in a statement Thursday afternoon said that, courier is in the security custody for further investigation. 

Aruwan said: “In another significant breakthrough, troops of Operation Forest Sanity have intercepted a large quantity of ammunition being conveyed to bandits by a courier around Polewire in Birnin Gwari LGA. 

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“According to a report forwarded to the Kaduna State Government, the troops followed up on credible intelligence around gunrunning activities, and in the course of diligent checks stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle within the location of interest. 

“A search of the intercepted vehicle – a black Toyota Corolla – revealed more than 2,000 rounds of various grades of ammunition, concealed in different parts of the car. 

“After a thorough search of the vehicle, the following precise quantities were recovered: 1,079 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 886 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition, 139 rounds of 7.62mm tracer ammunition and five empty AK-47 magazines were also recovered. 

“The driver of the vehicle, one Aminu Abdullahi, is in custody for further investigation. 

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the report with satisfaction, and thanked the troops for their proactiveness in denying bandits a major supply of ammunition meant to mete out more destruction and suffering. 

“The Governor warmly appreciated the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, One Division, Major General T.A. Lagbaja, for the latest notable breakthrough recorded. 

“Governor El-Rufai charged the security forces to proceed with a thorough investigation of the arrested suspect, and intensify efforts towards dismantling gunrunning networks across the State and beyond.”