The North Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally endorsed a former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as PDP National Chairman.
The North Caucus is made up of party leaders from the North Central, Northeast and the Northwest geopolitical zones.
The new chairman-in-waiting will be presented for approval at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in the days ahead.
The Supreme Court has upheld the emergence of ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Charles Soludo as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mary Odili, was unanimous in holding that the appeal filed by the Jude Okeke-factional leadership of APGA was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.
The court held that the issue of party leadership and the election of party’s officials were internal affairs of a political party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.
Justice Odili, in the lead judgment, returned Victor Oye as APGA’ National Chairman and upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Kano, which earlier affirmed Oye’s leadership dismissed the suit by Okeke.
She agreed with the respondents that the election of political parties’ officers was an internal affair of the respective parties and cannot be challenged in court.
The apex court held the appellants abused the process of a court by engaging in forum shopping and proceeded to award N1million cost against the appellants, to be paid to APGA and Oye.
The court took a swipe at Okeke and some lawyers in the case for attempting to mislead the court by filing multiple cases in respect of the same subject matter.
Justice Odili noted that the appellants, in a desperate bid to abuse the court’s process, moved their cases from Anambra states to Imo State and later to Jigawa State where they eventually got a judgment in their favour on March 31, 2021.
The judgment by the Jigawa High Court was later set aside by the Court of Appeal, Kano on the grounds that the Jigawa High Court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to hear the suit.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment on September 9 this year, dismissed a similar appeal by the Okeke faction and upheld the judgment by its Kano division.
A three-man panel of the court, led by the court’s President, Justice Monuca Dogban-Mensem held that the issue of who is the valid National Chairman of APGA was resolved in the earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal in Kano.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja further held since the court’s Kano division has affirmed Oye as APGA National Chairman, it lacked the jurisdiction to sit on appeal over an issue already resolved by its Kano division.
The Supreme Court has upheld the candidacy of the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
A panel of the apex court, in a judgment on Thursday dismissed the appeal against an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which upheld the Victor Oye-led leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Read Also: Anambra governorship: Supreme Court ruling likely Thursday on Soludo, other
The court held, in the unanimous judgment, that the internal issue of political parties’ is outside the jurisdiction of courts.
It proceeded to uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which resolved the leadership tussle in APGA in favour of Victor Oye and also upheld the primary election conducted by his leadership which produced Soludo as APGA governorship candidate for the November 6 governorship election.
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The Supreme Court has fixed judgment for 12noon today in an appeal challenging the candidacy of ex-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Charles Soludo in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
A moment ago, a panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mary Odili, after hearing lawyers to parties in the appeal, rose briefly to return by 12noon for its verdict.
The Court is to decide which of the two factions of the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) conducted a valid primary.
Soludo emerged from a primary conducted by a faction, while a member of the House of Representatives, Chukwuma Umeoji was produced by the second faction.
In an earlier judgment some weeks back, the Court of Appeal, Abuja held in favour of Soludo.
The Northern Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday failed to reach consensus on the choice of candidate for the PDP national chairman.
The political leaders were on Wednesday night forced to abort a meeting scheduled to hold at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
The aborted meeting was meant to harmonise the positions of the three zones regarding the choice of a consensus candidate for the chairman.
The Northcentral had on Tuesday, picked a former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as its consensus candidate while the Northwest is pushing a former Katsina Governor, Ibrahim Shema, for the job.
A former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwabo, and a federal lawmaker from Bauchi state, Abdu Ningi, are the two aspirants from the Northeast.
Giving reasons why the meeting could not hold, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, said that owing to communication gap, some of the leaders expected at the meeting did not show up.
He added that aspirants from the three geo-political zones in the North were still sticking to their resolve to contest for the position.
Fintiri said the meeting had been rescheduled to hold today.
Ayu looks set to become national chairman, a source said yesterday.
He may emerge the consensus choice, going by feelers within the new opposition party between Tuesday night and yesterday.
It was learnt that the position was micro-zoned to Northcentral and further zoned within that geo-political area to Benue State.
A meeting presided over on Tuesday night by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom in Abuja led to the selection of Ayu after another former Senate President, David Mark, former minister Jerry Gana (from Niger), former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris and Attah Idoko stepped out of the race.
According to Ortom, the leaders of the zone picked Ayu because they believed he had the commitment and capacity to stabilise the PDP and lead the party to victory in the 2023 general elections.
The governor said the purpose of the meeting was to find a consensus candidate among the five aspirants who would be presented to a larger meeting of the entire Northern Caucus.
Governor Ortom said: “We met here for several hours.
Among the five persons that were contesting, the leadership of our party from the North Central unanimously agreed to sponsor former Senate President Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to be the national chairman of our party from the North Central.
“There was no voting, we all agreed that he is the right person for this job at this time.
Ortom however, clarified that with the choice of Ayu as consensus candidate of the Northcentral did not stop the other two geopolitical zones of Northeast and Northwest from presenting their own candidates.
Mark and another former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki attended the meeting.
Also there were Gana; Idris; BoT chairman Walid Jibrin, among others.
A party leader at the meeting said: “When we met at the Northcentral Caucus, there were arguments back and forth over who to choose between Mark and Ayu. But the clincher came from Ortom who asked Mark if he indicated interest in the office from the outset.
“It was obvious that Mark was playing the game at the national level and not at the zonal stage. Based on intelligence at his disposal, the trend of discussions at the caucus meeting and having not followed party procedures on his ambition, Mark decided to set aside his ambition. He said he was no longer interested.
“The truth is that at the caucus meeting, Mark did not have the number to put his ambition through. Ortom and other leaders in Northcentral have sealed the deal for Ayu.
“In the absence of no other rival from Benue State, Iyorchia Ayu emerged as the preferred candidate for the office.”
It was gathered that another reason beyond the choice of Ayu was about the party’s ultimate decision on the presidential ticket.
A NEC member said: “If at the end, we decide to zone the presidential ticket to the North, Ayu will be more amenable to prevail upon to step down for a Southern PDP chairmanship candidate than Mark.
A former governor, who spoke in confidence, said Ayu was a product of a deal among PDP governors.
The source said: “Some PDP governors reached a deal to pick the next chairman from the North-Central and Ortom was made the arrowhead of the search.
“From what played out on Tuesday night at Benue Governor’s Lodge, it was obvious that there had been an “accord concordiale” to concede the slot to Benue. You can see the results of the shuttles in and out of Makurdi by some PDP governors.
Notwithstanding, a former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema (North-West) and Ahmed Ningi (North-East) were still going ahead with their aspirations to lead PDP. Ningi was picked as candidate for the position by Northeast stakeholders last night.
A fresh crisis is brewing in the Southwest PDP between Governor Seyi Makinde’s camp and some leaders in Ayodele Fayose’s group.
Fayose’s camp, which is alleging marginalization in power sharing in PDP South-West, has taken its case to the PDP Governors Forum.
Another source added: “Apart from producing the National Vice Chairman(South-West) from Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has unilaterally zoned the Deputy National Chairman(South) to Osun State; the National Publicity Secretary to Ogun State and the Deputy National Secretary to Ondo State. There was nowhere any South-West Caucus meeting was held to decide the micro-zoning. We have just been informed that he has penciled down ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South).
“The same Makinde allegedly handpicked five members of the Board of Trustees for the zone. This is why Fayose’s group is angry and protesting to the PDP Governors Forum.”
But a source privy to the PDP South-West politics said: “Makinde has not been unilateral at all in his action. As the leader of the PDP in the South-West, he has been mutually consulting party elders and past governors on how to ensure justice and fairness.
“We don’t know exactly what Fayose wants. He cannot be talking of marginalisation when a process has not been concluded.”
Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) is critically ill, his lead counsel, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), said yesterday.
Alliyu told The Nation that the embattled agitator’s health was deteriorating, saying he required urgent medical attention abroad.
Igboho has been detained in Cotonou by the government of Benin Republic since July while on alleged transit journey to Europe.
It was learnt that the government had not filed specific charges against him.
His lawyer said he had been taken to the hospital in Cotonou for medical attention.
Alliyu claimed that the agitator’s body organs may have been damaged while trying to escape during the July 1 invasion of his Soka, Ibadan home by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).
Read Also: Sunday Igboho will die if extradited to Nigeria — Lawyer
“Igboho was not diagnosed with this sickness before he was arrested in Cotonou. It was so critical that they had to convey him to a hospital.
“I can’t tell if he has been returned to the prison from the hospital, but what I know is, he’s battling ill health and it seems his kidney and lungs are already being affected.
“Even though I cannot tell which part of his body the sickness has really affected, I know it has to do with his internal organs,” he said.
The lawyer said Igboho had applied to the Republic of Benin authorities to allow him seek better medical attention in either France or Germany.
The Nation learnt that no specific date had been fixed for hearing of planned charges to be filed against the activist.
An Oyo State High Court had, last month, declared Igboho’s agitation legal, establishing that it was in exercise of his fundamental human rights.
The court also declared DSS’ invasion of his house illegal and slammed a N20 billion aggravated damages against the secret police
The Federal Government will begin the application of the no-vaccination-no-work rule beginning from December 1, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 hinted yesterday.
PSC Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha said all Federal Government employees will be required to show prove of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result to gain access into their offices.
Mustapha, who spoke at a briefing by the PSC in Abuja, said: “With effect from 1st of December, 2021, Federal Government employees shall be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours, to gain access to their offices, in all locations within Nigeria and our missions abroad.
“An appropriate service-wide advisory/circular will be issued to guide the process.”
The SGF also informed that the PSC had decided, after a proper review of development within their borders, to relax the restriction imposed on travellers from Brazil, Turkey and South African.
He said: “Over several months, four countries were placed on high level restriction for travelers from such countries. The PSC has after a review of the developments in these countries, decided to remove South Africa, Turkey, and Brazil from the restricted list.
“As you are aware, the UK has eased restrictions on fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria to the UK with effect from 11th October. Nigeria welcomes this development and assures that the PSC shall continue to review Nigeria’s protocols based on global developments, science and national experience.”
Speaking on the diplomatic row with the United Arab Emirate (UAE) over travel ban due to testing conditions, the SGF said that the aviation authorities in collaboration with the diplomatic sector have made reasonable progress in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Discussions are still on-going with the UAE authorities to resolve the impasse,” Mustapha informed.
He noted that increased passenger traffic in and out of the country will be experienced with the approach of two major religious festivities (Sallah and Christmas).
According to him, both events will trigger gatherings of people.
“While PSC prepares to escalate surveillance and other control activities, we urge the states and all Nigerians to also increase their vigilance and take measure to moderate activities,” he said.
Speaking further, Mustapha said statistics generated over the last four weeks on testing have shown that the trend of infection is going down in some states while going up in others.
He put the combined total figure for testing by PCR and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) at about 3.141,795 million persons.
It was an event of testimonial of brilliance and excellence on Sunday, October 3, 2021 as Corona Secondary School, Agbara graduated the Class of 2021 students, who, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning, graduated the set said to have garnered the highest number of international scholarships from various universities around the world. Remarkably, the set gained a total value of $2.5 million. That informed the level of splendour with which the school celebrated the 51 graduating students. CHINAKA OKORO reports.
Academic gatekeepers have maintained that three crucial elements are important in the success story of any entity, especially students who are in pursuit of scholastic success.
These factors, they say, are dedication, determination, and devotion. To be dedicated to a cause indicates being single-minded and focused; allowing nothing to interfere or divert one’s attention or focus.
When a student is determined to succeed academically, he must have the ability to continue doing what he is doing even if it is taxing.
Devotion could be the combination of dedication and determination as there is the need for commitment or profound dedication to some purpose. Success can be achieved only with strong dedication, pure devotion and strong determination. It is under this premise that one can appreciate the serial success stories of Corona Schools Students’ academic excellence even in the face of harsh odds such as the COVID-19 pandemic that is still ravaging the world.
Any wonder Corona School Students’ wins in local and international competitions have become a recurring decimal.
Corona Secondary School (CSS), Agbara, Ogun State being one of the foremost secondary schools in the country was founded on the vision to be Nigeria’s leading educational institution focused on and dedicated to producing well-rounded and proudly Nigerian young men and women equipped for helicopter performance.
Not only that, the school was also established with the mission to provide world-class education to children by inculcating high moral and ethical values on students, preparing them for lifelong learning, service and fulfilment.
Past and present achievements of this citadel of learning have proven its commitments in building leaders.
So, it was all praises recently when the school graduated 51 of its brightest students for the 2020/2021 academic session.
Whatever you choose to call them-heroes, resilient, or scholarly-you have only said half the truth, as they are much more.
Although not alien to the school, the outstanding performances of the 51 students of the set, at a time students are said to be at their lowest globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is still ravaging the world, validate the quality of the Corona School brand and define what it represents-excellence.
The students meritoriously won over 22 scholarships from various international universities, valued at $2.5 million, and also performed excellently in different national and professional examinations.
Their discipline, achievements, and knack for knowledge weren’t only rewarded at this year’s graduation and valedictory ceremony of the school.
The theme of the ceremony “Discipline: the Path to Achievements,” was a form of encouragement to other students still in school, as they continue to strive to attain academic excellence.
The Head teacher of the school, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola, praised the determination of the class to remain focused on the goal, despite the transmutation of classes to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said: “We thought they were going to be depressed and sad when we switched over to digital learning due to the COVID-19 but they always had a happy face.
“Some schools couldn’t make this transition very easily, unlike what we were able to do in all Corona Schools. The transmutation to the online and hybrid mode of teaching was seamless because, as a school, we are tech savvy, sufficiently equipped, and experienced to continue to provide world-class education.
“Corona Secondary School Agbara is the first e-learning school in Africa, since 2006. So, we are sufficiently equipped.
These children with enviable maturity took on the task of learning remotely, and today they have proved that they are certainly digital natives.
“They were committed to their studies, worked immensely hard and didn’t let the challenges be a reason to flop. I am extremely proud of you all. Your diligence paid off.
“This class is the class that has a group known as community changers. This remarkable group took on and completed seven community service initiatives around Agbara and in far away Takwa-Bay and they got global recognition from the things they did.
“They raised funds to purchase and donate educational materials, they upgraded a library, they painted a school, they donated printers, and they did food distribution to malnourished children. They also erected road signs in and around school, and were formidable.
“This is also the class that has the highest amount of international scholarships that we have got so far. As of the last count, this impressive Class of 2021 had got over $2.5 million worth of scholarships from various schools around the world. And one of the schools had instituted an endowment and a price for some students.”
Advising the graduating students as they embark on new pursuit, Mrs. Oluwadamilola urged them not to forget all the lessons they had learnt from the school and most importantly, “remember that you are never going to be able to score a goal until you take a shot. And also don’t wait for your sheep to come in, go out to meet it. Congratulations.”
The Board Chairman of Corona Secondary School, Niyi Yusuf said the graduation and valedictory ceremony are always a moment to recognise the hard work of the students over the last six years, and also an opportunity to recognise the deserving members of staff.
“This is a set that among them, they have received over $2.5 million worth of scholarship awards. It is also a set that has won many international and national awards which cut across academics, and also sports.
“They won a global Mathematics Championship just two years ago and have recorded many firsts, in academic and sports. This speaks to an all-round development of students.
“They have shown resilience because this is a set that has survived COVID-19, a very difficult period. And like we joke, instead of three terms in their final year, they’ve done four terms.
“My advice to them is that they should always remember that sometimes things don’t happen as we wish, but they should keep strong because tough times don’t last, only tough people do.”
The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele congratulated the Class of 2021 on its milestone achievements, and wished them the best in their future endeavours.
“These young boys and girls have been well equipped to face the future. They have been well brought up to be confident, of good character, and composure.
“There is a very good legacy of very successful alumni of this school and these have been achieved by the fantastic faculty here who have done good work and laid a good foundation to be able to face future challenges.
“So, I implore this brilliant set of 2021 that has been awarded numerous scholarships that it too, must go out there and fly the flag of Corona, so that we can always hear very good reports and feedback from them.”
She urged the graduating students to continue being disciplined and always let the disciplines they have gotten from home and school to be their guide through their future endeavours.
The Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology Ogun State Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, spoke to the graduating students about the importance of discipline over talents, in their path to other future achievements.
According to him, he said discipline would take them where their talents can’t. He equally stressed on the importance of self-discipline.
“Success doesn’t come from good work or enormous talent but through self-discipline. Self-discipline entails you having a good plan for yourself and sticking to it irrespective of the distractions or obstacles that come your way.
“When you don’t have a plan, other people would use you to achieve their own plans or goals. Always let your eyes be on the goal and work towards it vigorously.”
He urged the graduating students to ensure that they continue to empower themselves in knowledge and never be defeated by failure at the first try.
“Search for knowledge in whatever field you choose and don’t be discouraged by failure, because failure is also part of life. When you fall, take the sand from the spot and see what you can build with it to go forward.
“Also fear God and don’t cut corners. Work and earn your good name. Be of good character. Avoid procrastination, distractions, laziness, and temptations,” he said.
He, therefore, advised them to learn to prioritise and organise their time, and ensure to gain absolute control of their minds and thoughts.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Valedictory Awards to the top best graduating students among the Class of 2021.
The Head Boy of the set, Jay Esemudje, was named the Valedictorian of the set, followed by Tamaramiebi Akika who was named the Salutatorian and then Zara Okoli, who was named the Third Best Overall student of the set.
On behalf of Jay Esemudje, who was absent at the occasion, his Father, Mr. Napoleon Esemudje revealed that Jay, who is his first son and only child, has always been a trailblazer.
“We are very proud of him, we have been proud of him for a very long time. He is a gifted child. He has been astonishing as a person and has always been a trailblazer.
He got scholarships from six different universities in the United States of America (USA) and he has already resumed in Duke University.
“Aside being proud of Jay, we also want to thank the school management for grounding him and making him who he is today. At 17, this has been an outstanding achievement for him and all thanks to the school. Aside from academics, he is a singer; he loves acting, reading, and a simple gentle guy.”
He further described Jay as exceptional in person and academics even as he assured that there was more to come from Jay, who has resumed at Duke University, where he is studying to become a Bioengineer.
In a chat with reporters on behalf of the 51 graduating members of the class, the Deputy Head Boy, Adesiji Olumide thanked all the teachers and members of staff of Corona Secondary School, Agbara for their impact and immense support.
He said the class would ensure keeping to the values and discipline that were imbibed in them, as they sojourn through the next phase of their lives. He also appreciated the school for helping him to improve on his self-confidence, among others.
Picture 10
From left: Parent of the Salutatorian, Mr. Akika; Salako-Oyedele; Salutatorian Akika; her mother, Mrs. Akika; and Mrs. Adesina at the event.
Embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has been reportedly diagnosed with possible kidney or lungs illness in Benin Republic.
Yomi Aliyu, one of the lawyers of the agitator, told BBC Yoruba about the agitator’s developing illness, stating that the rights activist developed the illness in Benin Republic prison custody.
According to Aliyu, the agitator who is critically ill, was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The lawyer raised the alarm that Igboho needed urgent medical attention.
According to him: “Igboho was not diagnosed with this sickness before he was arrested in Cotonou. It was so critical that they had to rush him to the hospital.
Read Also: Sunday Igboho will die if extradited to Nigeria — Lawyer
“I can’t tell if he has been returned to the prison from the hospital but what I know is, he’s battling ill health and it seems his kidney and lungs are already being affected.
“Even though I cannot tell which part of his body the sickness has really affected, I know it has to do with his internal organs.”
Sources in the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, confirmed the development.
“Yes, he is ill and his kidney appears affected. We are not very sure yet. Another test result is expected for confirmation. We are working on that and I can assure you that he is in safe hands,” one of the sources said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for Ilana Oodua, Maxwell Adeleye, said: “Expect our reaction soon. But the government should be warned that nothing must happen to Igboho.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, received the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, who recently left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the ruling party the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Okeke was presented to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by the APC caretaker chairman and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
Also present during the brief introduction ceremony was Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who was also at the Presidential Villa for a meeting with President Buhari.
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