Category: Lead

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the last governorship election in Osun State.

A five-man panel, in a judgment a moment ago, dismissed the appeal by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.

Read Also: JUST IN: Adeleke, Oyetola besiege Supreme Court for verdict on Osun Gov dispute

The apex court affirmed the March 25 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which earlier upheld Adeleke’s victory.

The Appeal Court had, in its judgement, set aside an earlier judgment by the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which held in favour of Oyetola and sacked Adeleke.

Details Shortly…

Supporters of Osun Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke and his immediate predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola have besieged the premises of the Supreme Court in anticipation of the judgment scheduled for 2pm.

The court is expected to deliver judgement in the appeal by Oyetola, seeking the reversal of the March 25 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which affirmed Adeleke’s victory in the last governorship election in Osun State.

Read Also: Supreme Court to rule in Osun governorship dispute today

The Appeal Court, in its judgement, set aside an earlier judgment by the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which held in favour of Oyetola and sacked Adeleke.

Details Shortly…

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the acquisition of the troubled Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), by Transcorp Group.

Read Also: Transcorp Power surpasses minimum capacity target

 Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, announced this while speaking at the commissioning of the 240MW Afam Three Fast Power Plant ongoing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Details Shortly…

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has adjourned further pre-hearing session in the petitions by Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) till Thursday.

The court, at the conclusion of its sitting on Tuesday, indicated that the petition by APM will be taken by 9am, while that jointly filed by Atiku and the PDP will be taken at 2pm on Thursday

Read Also: BREAKING: PEPC dismisses AA’s petition against Tinubu, APC, others

Justice Tsammani, before adjourning, ordered lawyers to parties in the petitonby to meet and harmonise their positions in respect of documents to be tendered, those to be objected to and those to allowed in without objection.

He also ordered the to file their distilled issues for determination in the petitions.

Earlier, lawyer to Atiku and PDP, Chris Uche (SAN) told the court that his clients have filed a motion, seeking to have the proceedings televised.

Lawyers to the respondents – Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) for Bola Tinubu, and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the APC – said they will file their responses within the time allowed by the rules of the court.

Details shortly…

• Barau, Kalu nominated as Deputy Senate President, Dep. Speaker
• 72 non-serving senators back party’s choice
• Umahi: Southeast to get compensation
• Orji Kalu writes NWC

The ruling party yesterday announced its choice for principal positions of the 10th National Assembly.
Aside from the geo-political areas to which it zoned top offices, the All Progressives Congress (APC) attached its preferred people to occupy the offices.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) ratified the arrangement at its meeting in Abuja, according to its spokesman Felix Morka.
Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest) is tipped as Senate president and Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) as Deputy Senate President.
Also nominated are Tajudeen Abass (Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State) as Speaker, House of Representatives and Benjamen Kalu (Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State) as Deputy Speaker.
The election for principal officers is the first assignment the two chambers will carry out after their inauguration next month.
Speaking to reporters after the four-hour NWC meeting, Morka said: “The NWC met today (yesterday) to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.
“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-elect and the leadership of the NWC. 
“The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the party nationwide.
“We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.”

Ex-Senators back Akpabio
A group of 72 senators who served as members of the Second to Fourth Republic National Assembly said they were fully behind Akpabio.
Convener of the group, Basheer Lado, said their support for the former minister was based on the need for fairness, equity and justice.
Lado, who once represented Kano Senatorial District, told reporters that in the spirit of fairness and equity, the number three position should be zoned to the Southsouth.
Lado said: “We, in the spirit of equity, fairness, political expediency and following extensive consultations with stakeholders, hereby express our total support for the zoning of the position of the president of the 10th senate, to the Southsouth geo-political zone of Nigeria.
“We also affirm our unfettered support for the position of the president of the 10th Senate who also doubles as the chairman of the National Assembly to be conferred on Senator Akpabio.
“The position of Senate president represents the third position in the hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation. 
“This position carries considerable weight in discharging vital constitutional responsibilities and charting the right course for our national development.
“It is also important that the holder of such a position enjoys the confidence and support of the party leadership and that of his peers as Senator Godswill Akpabio undoubtedly does.
“With this same spirit of fairness, we also affirm our solid support that the position of deputy president of the 10th Senate is conceded to distinguished Senator Barau Jubril.”
Listed as some of the group members are Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade; George Akume, Barnabas Gemade, Andy Uba, Olorunnimbe Mamora and Magnus Abe.

Kalu writes APC NWC, Senators-elect 
Before a statement by the APC NWC on the zoning arrangement, Senate Chief Whip Orji Kalu said he would go ahead with the race.
Kalu, in a letter to the NWC and 108 other Senators-elect on his interest to become the Senate President, said he was offering himself for the position with sincerity of heart, humility and candour.
He, however, refuted the report that Southeast Senators-elect endorsed him.
According to him, the Senators-elect of the Southeast only met to make a demand from the President-elect and the party and have yet to endorse anyone.
Kalu, a former Abia State governor, promised to promote and defend the constitution as well as foster a cordial relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary if he emerges as Senate President.
The letter reads in part: “Leadership of a sophisticated Senate at the 10th Session will need men and women with an abundance of shared vision, consensus building, charisma, credibility and pragmatism in the saddle.
“This is why I most humbly write to officially inform you of my interest to be elected the next Senate President.
“I make this offer to serve you and the Nigerian people with sincerity of heart, humility and candour.
“The biggest asset I bring to the table is wisdom and experience garnered over the years in the management of human and material resources.
“One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the real next level of peace, progress and development.”
Kalu argued that “in a democratic clime like ours, the ruling party plays a key role in setting up the structure of government”.
Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, who are have been endorsed by the APC leadership for the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions, argued that they were the most suitable.
Abbas said in a statement by his campaign office that the Northwest deserved the seat because it gave the APC the highest number of votes during the presidential election. 
 
Umahi: Tinubu will compensate Southeast
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi expressed optimism that President-elect Tinubu will compensate the Southeast with tangible positions having been zoned out of the Senate Presidency.
“We (Southeast) cannot continue opposing everything as politics is all about dialogue, give and take.
“What could have happened if I said no and considering our efforts to promote the APC in the zone, we will get a tangible position,” Umahi said. 
He said he was prevailed upon by the President-elect to step down for Akpabio.
Umahi explained that he agreed in the interest of the APC and the Southeast.
He spoke with reporters on arrival at the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Onueke from Abuja.
The governor, who said he was invited by Tinubu, added that he stepped down because he did not “want to be a spoke in the wheel of his progress.”
He said: “I discussed the issue with him (Tinubu) when he was in Paris and on return to the country, he invited me.
“It was an honour to be invited by the President-elect and he told me that he had made commitments.
“It is his right as the President-elect to make commitments and anyone running for such office makes promises.
“I did not want to be a spoke in the wheel of his progress so I accepted.”
Umahi said he was not aware of any resolution by Southeast senators-elect to support Kalu for the position.
“I am the chairman of the Akpabio campaign council and I can tell you that we have more APC senators on our side,” he added.
The governor also said he would never lobby to be appointed a minister in the incoming administration.
“I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the Senate to rest.
“I will, however, have no choice if it is the sacrifice to make in the interest of the party, Southeast and to help the President-elect.” 
 
Reps group hails zoning
House of Representatives members-elect, under the umbrella of The Joint Task – 10th Assembly, hailed the zoning arrangement.
In a statement by the Chairman Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe); Co-Chairman Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), and Secretary Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano), the group hailed Tinubu for showing leadership in arriving at the choice.
While pledging to work with the incoming Tinubu administration, the forum said it would work hard to realise the zoning arrangement.
The forum, which comprises members-elect from the APC, PDP, Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Party (ADC) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), noted that it has been waiting for the party’s direction on zoning to decide on the next line of action.
The statement said: “As a forum, we at the Joint Task – 10th Assembly welcome the zoning arrangement of the APC. We believe in upholding the best democratic practices. That is why we want to join hands as political parties that won seats in the parliament to have a harmonious working relationship with the other arms of government, especially the Executive, without compromising our independence.
“Now that the APC NWC has taken the bold decision, we will go in line with the party’s choice and work assiduously to realise same. 
“We want to assure the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that as a Parliament, we would work harmoniously and assiduously with him to realise his plans for Nigeria. We would work jointly with all stakeholders within and outside the House to have a stable house.”
 
Senators kick
Some Senators-elect have advanced criteria that should be observed in choosing the presiding officers of the 10th Senate.
While some favour zoning of the positions, others advise that there must be balance in the distribution of top political positions.
A number of the incoming senators warned against imposition and insisted that they should be allowed to independently choose their presiding officers.

Akpabio hopeful
Akpabio, who got more support from groups outside the National Assembly, said that he was optimistic that justice and equity would prevail at the end of the day.  
He also said he was not worried that some Senators-elect were protesting his endorsement by the APC leadership.
The former Niger Delta Affairs Minister said: “I believe that justice will be done in terms of balancing the political equations in the country to ensure a very peaceful tenure for the incoming President.
“I am not worried at all about opposition to my ambition. It is a normal thing. I always describe politics as a game of concentric circles of conspiracy. I am not worried about anything. I believe strongly that the will of God will be done.
“My colleagues would decide my fate on the floor during the inauguration. The senators-elect would take a decision.
“The lawmakers would elect the next Senate President. I believe that there should be cooperation between the parties and the lawmakers.
“Once the leadership is put in place, there should be a collaboration between the leadership and the Parliament to ensure a smooth administration.
“We are all mutually dependent on one another while at the same time, exercising our legislative duties and independence. On the whole, I believe that we can only get better as our democracy matures.”
Senator Osita Izunaso, who is also eyeing the position, argued the most natural thing for the APC leadership to do was to zone the office of Senate President to the Southeast.
Izunaso vowed not to step down for anybody, saying the Southeast was also a contributor to APC’s success in the general election.
Also, Ned Nwoko of the PDP said the National Assembly, being an independent body must have a free hand to decide on its leadership.
Abdulrahman Samaila, one of the Senators-elect, who flayed the consensus zoning arrangement, said constitutional provisions must be followed. 
Samaila of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), said: “On the issue of the Senate Presidency, we should follow the constitution. There is a clear and express provision in the constitution which allows members of the National Assembly to choose their presiding officers amongst themselves irrespective of party affiliation, religious or ethnic considerations.”
But another group, Good Governance Initiative (GGi), which supports Abdulaziz Yari as the next Senate President also rejected calls by 72 former members of the Red Chamber to have Akpabio as Senate President.
“These were people who functioned as lawmakers at the highest level of this country previously. They ought to understand fundamental rights of individuals as enshrined in the constitution,” National President of GGi, Kunle Sanusi, said.
 
Group protest
Earlier, a group, All Progressives Congress (APC) North Central Stakeholders, stormed the National Secretariat of the party to protest the exclusion of the Northcentral from the zoning arrangement.
Led by Salihu Ibrahim, the group complained that the arrangement was not favourable to the region, adding that the zone was marginalised.
Ibrahim told reporters: “We are asking not too much. We are asking that the Speaker of the 10th Assembly should be zone to Northcentral. That is what we want for now
“We didn’t come here for the candidacy but for the interest of Northcentral. The Northcentral should be recognised and appreciated by the APC National level. 
“The 10th Assembly speakership should be zoned to Northcentral if they can’t give us the Senate President.” 

• Pre-hearing continues
• Tinubu: let’s allow judicial process run its course

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday dismissed the petition by the Action Alliance (AA) and its presidential candidate, Solomon Okanigbuan.

The court’s decision followed a motion moved by the petitioners’ lawyer, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), but he did not say why his client was withdrawing it.

Listed as respondents in the petition, marked: CA/PEPC/01/2023 are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Hamza Al-Mustapha.

Lawyers to the respondents – Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the APC, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for Tinubu and Mohammed Sani for Al-Mustapha, did not object to the withdrawal.

Ruling, Justice Tsammani dismissed the petition.

Justice Tsammani earlier announced that the court would commence its pre-hearing session with three petitions: the one by AA and those by the Action Peoples Party (APP), marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023 and Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023.

He sought the cooperation of all lawyers to enable the court to decide the cases on time.

President-elect Tinubu urged Nigerians to have faith in the judiciary and allow judicial process to run its course.

According to him, the ongoing case at the tribunal is part of the democratic process, which allows anyone who feels aggrieved after losing an election to challenge it in court.

He said his pre-occupation now is how to hit the ground running after his inauguration on May 29.

He said the challenges are enormous and he is prepared to give all that is required to make life more abundant for Nigerians.

He spoke yesterday in Lagos at about the time the tribunal’s pre-hearing was going on in Abuja.

He was addressing some of the guests that graced the prayer session at his new home on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive in Ikoyi.

The new home is a stone’s throw from his famous Bourdillion street residence.

After the dismissal of AA’s petition, counsel for the petitioners and respondents in the other two petitions – Obed Agwu (for APP), Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) for Obi and LP, Fagbemi, Olanipekun and Mahmoud adopted the separate responses to the pre-hearing questions in respect of the two petitions, which they filed earlier.

Afterwards, the court urged them to meet, and agree on what documents to be tendered, those they plan to object to and those they will allow to be admitted without objection.

The court also ordered them to identify issues for determination in both petitions and file them before the next pre-hearing session.

It subsequently adjourned till tomorrow at 9 am for the resumption of the pre-hearing session in the petition by the APP, and 2 pm the same day on the petition by Obi and LP.

The court fixed the pre-hearing session on the other two petitions – by Allied Peoples Movement (APM) marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023, and Atiku Abubakar & the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023 – for today at 9 am.

Some politicians, including Obi, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and Senator Victor Umeh (LP) witnessed yesterday’s sitting.

During the short ceremony at Tinubu’s new Lagos home, Islamic clerics – Sheik Ayinla Abdulmojeed of Nawarudeen Mission, Dr. Abdulrahman Ahmad, Sheik Abdulafeez Abu, Baba Adinni of Lagos, and Acting Chief Imam Sheik Abdul Bari, and Alhaji Habit Taoferk, Imam of Shitta-Bey Mosque – offered prayers at the event.

Sheik Abu, a man in his nineties who briefly reflected on the historic presidential election, congratulated Tinubu and pray for his success as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

The Christian prayer was offered by the eminent politician and Baba Aladura of Cherubim and Cheraphim, Oke Ayo Igbala Irapada,  Iganmu, Olorunfunmi Basorun.

Some of Tinubu’s associates and friends that witnessed the ceremony are: former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Ogun State Olusegun Osoba, former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Lagos State APC Governance Advisory Council (GAC) member Prince Oluyole Olusi, Tinubu’s Special Adviser Mr. Dele Alake, Lagos State Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello, a members of the transition council Mr Olawale Edun, former APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Chief Pius Akinyelure, Lagos State Police Commissioner Idowu Owohunwa, Retired Police Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu and Tinubu’s media adviser Tunde Rahman.

Why we withdrew petition, by AA

AA said it withdrew the petition because of the “unity of our nation”.

It said it would not want to be the reason Nigeria will be thrown into another horrific experience similar to June 12, 1993, presidential election crisis.

Chairman of the party, Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omo-Aje, said in a statement in Kaduna that as active democrats in the democratic experiment, AA shall not be used by proponents of the interim government to achieve their concocted agenda of taking over the government through the back door.

“Our party believes in the three key principles of a healthy democracy, which are: equity, fairness and justice.

“The agitations around our country today are because parts or all of these key principles have been relegated.

“We believe it is not fair to abort the ascendancy of a southerner to the most exalted seat and position, especially after a northerner has successfully sat on same for eight years.

“We do not want to be seen as being used as a vehicle for further relegation of these all-important principles of democracy,” AA said.

Atiku seeks TV coverage

Also yesterday, Atiku asked the tribunal to televise its proceedings.

His lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), said: “An integral part of the constitutional duty of the court to hold proceedings in public is discretion to allow public access to proceedings either physically or by electronic means.

“With the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this honourable court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.

“Televising court proceedings is not alien to this honourable court, and will enhance public confidence.”

‘Cases impossible to conclude before May 29’ 

Two SANs, Adeleke Agbola and Kayode Adeluola, said how quickly the cases will be decided will partly depend on the lawyers.

Speaking on Channels Politics Today, Agbola said: “I have listened to very senior lawyers saying this election petition can be concluded before May 29, which is just two weeks away. I can assure you that is not going to happen.”

Adeluola said the timeline is already set in the Constitution.

“A lot of people do not know what the rules are. We are in for a period which is definite.

“The Constitution says you have a maximum of 180 days within which the petition must be heard and judgment delivered, and the 180 days begins to run from the date the petition was filed.

“Members of the public should know that 180 days is the maximum. It is possible that this case will go on for less than that but the chances are very slim.

“The election tribunal requires ample time to look at the evidence before decisions are made.

“We are going to have fireworks because the parties have preliminary objections which have been filed, so the objections will be taken alongside the petition. 

“It is a whole lot of work and people should not be unduly anxious but watch out for the decisions,” he said.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday took a major step to improve dollar liquidity through foreign banks’ representatives in Nigeria. 

The apex bank authorised them to work with their parent companies in availing and syndicating foreign currency-denominated loans (dollar loans) to Nigerian companies. 

The Guidelines for the Regulation of Representative Offices of Foreign Banks in Nigeria, signed by the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Muhammad Musa, said the policy aligns with CBN’s mandate to promote financial system stability.

He said the guidelines are backed by Sections 6(1) and 8 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020 (BOFIA) respectively which states that “no foreign bank shall operate in Nigeria without prior approval of the CBN”. 

The CBN said a bank licensed under any foreign law, whose registered head office is outside Nigeria, or any financial institution licensed under foreign law, whose primary business includes the receipt of deposits, granting of loans and/or provision of current and savings accounts, are covered by the guidelines.

It also includes any foreign-owned operating bank/financial holding company that is foreign-based, that owns controlling interest in one or more banks or institutions whose primary business includes the receipt of deposits, granting of loans and provision of current and savings accounts. 

The CBN also authorised the banks to market the products and services of its foreign parent or an affiliate of the foreign parent licensed and domiciled outside Nigeria. 

They can also carry out research activities in Nigeria on behalf of the foreign parent and also serve as a liaison between the foreign parent and local banks, private institutions within Nigeria and other customers of the foreign parent based in Nigeria.

The banks can also connect banks and other financial institutions to their parent firm, and assist exporters in Nigeria with information related to the laws and markets of target countries in which the foreign parent or any of the Group’s affiliates has a subsidiary.

Part of the responsibilities includes collating and distributing economic and financial information or country reports to its foreign parents for use by their customers and assisting their customers who desire to invest in Nigeria or do business with Nigerian companies subject to the extant Data Protection Regulations. 

They are also authorised to connect exporters with potential customers in jurisdictions where the parent company operates; and assist Nigerian exporters with finding new markets through its international offices.

“Representative offices are permitted to record revenue, in so far as such revenue does not relate to non-permissible activities as set out in section 3.2 below and emanates from intra-group services rendered to the parent company with such revenue taxed in accordance with transfer-pricing regulations. Revenue in this provision is limited to line items such as staff costs and business premises leasing fees,” the CBN said. 

However, the banks are not allowed to provide services designated in Nigeria as banking business and provide any commercial or trading activity that may lead to the issuance of invoices for services rendered. 

In establishing a representative office in Nigeria, the CBN said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CBN and the applicant’s home regulatory supervisor is essential. “Where such an MOU is non-existent, the CBN will work with the home regulatory agency to establish/execute an MOU as soon as possible,” it said.

“Not later than three months after obtaining the Approval-In-Principle, the promoters of a proposed office shall submit an application for the grant of a final license to the CBN,” the apex bank said.

Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has described the word “reconciliation”, used in media reports of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s visit to his house in Abeokuta Ogun State at the weekend as non-applicable.

He said the word was never raised, adding that its insertion in the reports was “most inappropriate” and a “diversionary invocation.”

Soyinka noted that there was no issue to reconcile between him and Obi, but refuted any acknowledgement of or relationship with the “Obidient” or “Obidient Family” as Obi’s supporters are known.

The Obidients verbally attacked the Nobel laureate for describing the LP flag bearer’s running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed’s comment on Channels Television, TV, as fascist.

Obi, in a post on his official Twitter handle on Sunday, poured encomiums on Soyinka.

He described the visit as enriching, adding that he had a useful discussion with the literary giant.

He said: “I visited one of Nigeria’s most revered figures and an international literary icon Prof Wole Soyinka. Prof Soyinka has been my father whom I hold in very esteem for what he has achieved and stands for in the struggle for a better Nigeria. 

“His reputation as a fighter for justice and equity in our society has been legendary and we will never ignore them.

“I had a very useful and enriching discussion about his aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria, and he shared a lot with me about his dream for a greater, and more inclusive Nigeria. 

“I reminded the Nobel laureate of the huge price he paid just before the outbreak of the civil war, fighting for the cause of the Igbo.

“I cherish this Sunday visit which was intended to erase the needless misconceptions about the relationship between the great icon and the Obidient family.”

Soyinka reacted to media reports which followed the visit in a statement titled “A visitation, and the allure of ‘reconciliation’”.

He said he knew Obi and could relate to the party, adding that there were no issues to reconcile between them.

“However, I do not know, and am unable to relate to something known as the ‘Obidient’ or ‘Obidient Family,’ he noted.

The statement further reads: “Before it gains traction and embarks on a life of its own, I wish to state clearly that the word ‘reconciliation’, inserted into some reports of Peter Obi’s visit to me yesterday, Sunday, May 7, is a most inappropriate, and diversionary invocation.

“Let me clarify: I know the entity known as Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party. I can relate to him. I know and can relate to the Labour Party on whose platform he contested elections. There are simply no issues to reconcile between those two entities and myself. 

“However, I do not know, and am unable to relate to something known as the ‘Obidient’ or ‘Obidient Family’.

“Thus, albeit in a different vein, any notion of reconciliation, or even relations – positive, negative or indifferent – with such a spectral emanation is simply grasping at empty air.

“During that meeting, attended by two other individuals only, the word ‘reconciliation’ was never bruited, neither in itself nor in any other form. It simply did not arise. 

“By contrast, there were expressions of ‘burden of leadership’ ‘responsibility’, ‘apology’, ‘pleading’, ‘formal dissociation from the untenable’, all the way to the ‘tragic ascendancy of ethnic cleavage’, especially under such ironic, untenable circumstances. 

“Discussions were frank and creative. The notion of reconciliation was clearly N/A – Non Applicable. It was never raised.

“The following should be understood but never underestimated. What remains ineradicable from that weekend of orgiastic rave in social media was the opening up of the dark, putrid recesses in the national psyche that we like to pretend do not exist. 

“It invited – into minds seeking a grasp on reality- gruesome variations on images from Dante’s Purgatorio. 

“A fathomless pit was exposed, at the bottom of which one glimpsed a throng of the damned, writhing in competitive lust for the largest of the gangrenous ladles in a diabolical broth. 

“To peek over the edge of that pit for a prolonged spell was to turn giddy, with a risk of falling into the tureen of inhuman pus. 

“To attempt to navigate one’s way, however gingerly, along a mat spread across the infernal abyss, is an invitation to moral suicide.”

“For the serious-minded, I call attention to essays I have offered on the theme of Reconciliation based on Truth and the ethical imperative of Restitution. 

“There will be further elaborations forthcoming in DEMOCRACY PRIMER III – Bookcraft’s INTERVENTION series, now brought forward for publication on June 12, the watershed extorted from the current regime as the nation’s Democracy Day,

“If, from here on, I now comply with entreaties from several valued, genuinely concerned directions, and ignore new provocations, however vile, it is only because I also approve of Mohammed Ali’s strategy of Rope-a-Dope, where blind menace is left flailing hopelessly at the disdainful manifest of Truth.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday announced the consensus zoning arrangement for the 10th National Assembly leadership.

Arising from a meeting that lasted for more than four hours, the committee released the zoning arrangement for only the leadership of the two Chambers of the National Assembly.

The committee favours South-South to produce the Senate President while Deputy Senate President goes to North West.

It zoned the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North West and the Deputy Speaker to the South East.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, APC National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felux Morka said: “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

Read Also: Senate president: Diaspora group hails Tinubu, APC for supporting Akpabio

“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.

The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows:

SENATE:

1. Senate President – South South Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

2. Deputy Senate President – North West-Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

3. Speaker. House of Representatives North West-Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna)

4. Deputy Speaker South East-Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)

“We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.”

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has assured Nigeria will prosper under the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said Tinubu can fix Nigeria with God’s help, urging the President-Elect to fulfill Nigerians’ dream of a new nation.

Read Also: JUST IN: AA withdraws petition against Tinubu’s victory

Adeboye, represented by his Special Assistant, Pastor Dele Balogun, spoke at the monthly Thanksgiving service at the RCCG Headquarters in Ebute-Metta.

He said: “Let us pray for the incoming government that God will support it and give it the Grace to do the right thing.

“Thank God the President-elect has promised to fix Nigeria. If God helps him, Nigeria will prosper in his hands.”

Tinubu would be inaugurated on May 29 as President.