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Tag: leader

  • Community protests imposition of leader

    Community protests imposition of leader

    Protesters from Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South local government area of Delta state, yesterday, condemned in its entirety the decision of the Delta State Government Executive Council meeting approving Mr. Clement Ikolo as the king of Ewu Kingdom.

    This pronouncement of Mr. Ikolo as the Ewu king has thrown the entire Ewu kingdom into crisis with mass protest and barricades in all access roads to Ewu community, saying that Ewu king remains His Royal Majesty Bernard Awarieta, that other announcement by the state government is mere political exercise.

    The protesters comprises women, youths and men expressed their grievances towards the government decision against the tradition of the community with display of placards carrying several inscriptions; such as, “Government don’t throw Ewu Kingdom into crisis, Clement Ikolo is from Olomu and not Ewu.”

    The spokesman of Ahanwa kingmaker’s family ruling house, Chief Anthony Okagbare (JP), said Ewu is a peaceful kingdom and Delta government should not use Mr. Clement Ikolo imposed king to truncate peace and the tradition of the Ewu kingdom.

    Read Also: Group faults composition of Delta State Executive Council

    Okagbare said, “Governor Oborevwori’s friends in Olomu whom are bent on imposing Chief Ikolo on Ewu kingdom should tell the governor the truth. Why is Mr. Ikolo not come direct to Ewu community after his being confirmed instead, he went to Olomu with his former commissioner cousin who is also from Olomu.

    “Why did Ikolo not come straight to Ewu kingdom with his Olomu friends close to the governor and see who would have received them, every provess was followed to the satisfaction of all the communities and clans that makes up the kingdom before His Royal Majesty, Bernard Awarieta emerged and crowned on the 20th of May, 2021.

    “The kingdom has only one king and he is His Royal Majesty, Bernand Awarieta who has been attending several committee set up by the state government and waiting to be given Staff of Office, and only to be told that government has approved Okolo as king of where? It will not be accepted.”

  • Atiku’s visit to U.S. an attempt to score cheap political point -APC UK

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom Chapter, says Abubakar Atiku’s visit to the United States would not change Nigerians perception about him.

    Mr Ade Omole, Leader, APC UK chapter stated this while reacting to the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja.

    Atiku’s visit to the U.S was the first in 12 years, following an alleged corruption case.

    Mr Paul Ibe, his media adviser, in a statement said Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, left Nigeria on Thursday for the U.S.

    He was accompanied by the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    Ibe claimed that Atiku in the course of his trip would hold meetings with U.S officials, the business community and the Nigerian community.

    But Omole faulted the claim, describing the visit as a kangaroo trip meant to score cheap political gain, adding that Nigerians are wise enough to read between the lines and could not be hoodwinked by such untoward arrangement.

    “Abubakar Atiku certainly has reasons for not visiting the U.S in the past years, especially because of corruption allegation against him,” he said.

    Read Also: FG to Atiku: you have questions to answer over collapse of Bank PHB

    He recalled that records at the U.S congress had it that Atiku engaged in money laundering through his wife who was resident in the country.

    Omole maintained that Atiku’s entry into the U.S. is a mockery of President Bush’s Presidential Proclamation 7750 which affirmed denial of entry VISA to foreign officials involved in corrupt practices by the congress.

    He, however, said that Atiku’s visit to America would not absolve him of the corruption allegation which had been hanging on him.

    Omole stressed that he does not object to Atiku or any Nigerian gaining entry into the U.S., especially when he meets the entry VISA requirements.

    He, however, maintained that the visit of the former Vice President, more or less made a mockery of him and the PDP.

    “Whether he visits U.S., or outer space, it doesn’t change anything in Nigeria, the electorate have already made up their minds to re-elect President Buhari for a second term come Feb. 16,” Omole said.

    He added that the questionable character of an individual no matter how highly placed he may be, does not evaporate by a mere visit to America.

    Omole said an individual with questionable character remains so no matter where he visited at any given time, especially if such visit is to score political point.

    He noted that while Atiku is busy trying to prove himself clean from corruption allegations with his U.S visit, Buhari is busy campaigning to Nigerians on why he should be re-elected.

    He added that the APC had continued to use its scorecard and achievements in all sectors to campaign to Nigerians on why Buhari deserves a second term in office to consolidate on his achievements.

  • Police nab ‘leader’ of new Ponzi scheme

    The police have arrested a suspected leader of a new Ponzi scheme, D9 Clube, alleged to have swindled thousands of Nigerians.

    Operatives of the Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB), Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos said over 200 victims have been identified.

    The suspected leader, Kayode Samuel, the chief executive officer (CEO) of ‘Sack Your Boss Be Your Boss,’ was arrested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, alongside his employee, Kola Banji, where he was said to have relocated after swindling Mrs. Zainab Jimoh.

    Samuel allegedly lured the woman to invest one million naira with an assurance that the money would yield N3million returns. But when it did not come to fruition after a year, the suspect allegedly packed out of his 10, Aina Street, Ojudu Berger, Lagos office and relocated to Oyo State.

    The police said the incident occurred in August last year, but investigation into the case started when a petition was sent to the Inspector-General of Police (IG) and Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), FCIID.

    On November 6, police said they received a tip-off that Samuel and his accomplices were planning to defraud other persons.

    “The detectives embarked on investigation in Oyo State and the duo were arrested. An HP laptop and a Passat Volkswagen vehicle with registration number KRD953FJ were recovered from Samuel,” said the police.

     

  • APC lawmakers being tempted with cash to defect, says leader

    •Oshiomhole: problems ’ll be solved

    Aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Representatives are being enticed with mouth-watering cash and automatic return ticket to leave the party, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said yesterday.

    He spoke during a meeting between APC lawmakers and the National Working Committee (NWC)  led by Adams Oshiomhole.

    Gbajabiamila demanded automatic return tickets for the faithful members to compensate them for theitr steadfastness and broaden the gains of democracy.

    But Oshiomhole said he could not guarantee a return ticket adding that the APC would not impose candidates on their constituents.

    The chairman added that while the party would continue to dialogue with members of the party with genuine grievances, it would not negotiate with those he described as “political mercenaries”.

    Gbajabiamila said it took commitment of the members to the party and its ideology to turn down the tempting monetary offer, stressing that he was confident that the automatic ticket being offered would not be given to those who accepted the offer and defected from the APC.

    He asked the APC chairman to continue to fight for the interest of the lawmakers and do everything within his power to ensure that they are returned to the House in view of the experiences they have garnered over the years.

    He said: “I want to congratulate the party that we are able to heave a sign of relief after what I personally consider an abysmal failure, the attempt to turn APC into a minority party in the House and Senate. The reason why that was not possible is because seated before you is a team committed to the ideals of our party and despite sharing in the grievances of those who have left, remain stead fast.

    “It is because of them and not because of anyone of us in leadership, it is because of them, their commitment and steadfastness that in both chambers of the national assembly and especially in the House of Representatives that we command a clear majority. I emphasize this so that the party can begin to appreciate these members.

    “It is the time to consolidate and stay in touch with our members and keep them close because, this is what I told you Mr Chairman, this is their time, I was on Channels yesterday with the PDP publicity secretary and it made my heart bleed by the way politicians were described in a term analogous to farming. He said this was a harvest time as if it was a harvest of corn, rice and maize.The APC is not for harvest.

    He said a former PDP member who defected to the SDP had now joined the APC.

    “This letter came from Hon. Olamide Oni from Ekiti who about three or four months ago, defected from the PDP to the SDP.

    “He realised that the only party that can serve his interest is the APC. He is now with us.”

    Oshiomhole said the nation must get its politics right, while politicians must learn to have ideology that will drive their electoral process, saying “Until we get there, these musical chairs will continue.”

    He said with the defection of some members, “What has happened is that we are able to establish ahead of time those fair-weather party members who go according to where their pocket will be lined. Some of them are politicians of convenience and I don’t think that if we patch them up now, they can still flow.

    . “Somebody asked if we are going to counter the PDP by offering automatic ticket and I asked, did we serve anybody a departure ticket? If we did not give you a departure ticket, how did the issue of return ticket arise?

    . “My own findings arising from interactions, is that it is true that there are a number of legislators who have some issues with their local forces in their respective states and not arising from the federal executives.

    “Those issues are local and because every politics is local, every solution to political problem should necessarily be local.

    Oshiomhole said to give party members a level-playing ground and to ensure justice and fairness that it decided to use direct primary for the Osun governorship election.

    He said “In other to send clear signals out so that no one person or group can hold the system to ransom, we have tried to revisit our constitution and activate all the clauses that will help us to maintain unity and harmony within the house.

    “I have said that for us to have peace and unity, we must fight for justice and fairness because peace and unity is an outcome of justice and fairness. If you do not address justice, we cannot preach peace because peace cannot be decreed, but the outcome of a process.

    “I said to those who say they are running to PDP that, it is good, that is where you belong. If you left there because you felt that the culture of sharing will be deepened in the APC and you have found that sharing the money is not part of it and you choose to return, good luck to you.

    “But you must realize that the access to CBN has been cut off, the access to NNPC has been cut off, the access to converting defense spending has been cut off and those who have done it are helping security agencies to explain, they are confessing how they share the national treasury and so, you are free to go.”

  • Moghalu: I’m a leader, not politician

    A presidential aspirant of Young Progressive Party (YPP), Prof Kingsley Moghalu, has said he has no interest in becoming a politician but a leader.

    He said there should be no retreat or surrender in the quest to take back the nation from “old and recycled politicians who have no souls”.

    The YPP aspirant spoke during the “To Build a Nation (TBAN)” town hall meeting at the National Centre for Women Development in Garki, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also said next year’s election will be a defining moment in the nation’s history.

    According to him, Nigerians will have to “make a choice between poverty and prosperity, stability and lack of cohesion as well as between security and insecurity”.

    He urged Nigerians to prepare to send old politicians into retirement in next year’s general elections by voting away such leadership.

    The YPP aspirant advised voters to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to vote out bad leaders.

    Decrying the absence of good leaders with a worldview, Moghalu said: “We will rebuild this country into a great nation. We will set out a national ambition, a world view for this country and we will no longer continue to worship the God of small things, such as oil and tribalism.”

    The presidential aspirant promised to run an innovation-led and development-driven country, while also growing the economy and creating jobs by launching a N1 trillion venture capital fund to invest in new businesses for young entrepreneurs.

    If elected President, Moghalu said the Federal Government under him would set up skills acquisition centres in all the 774 local government areas across the country so that citizens can acquire the skills necessary to prosper.

  • Court adjourns hearing in Ikota traders, leader’s dispute

    A suit involving the embattled chairman of Ikota Shopping Mall Traders’ Association, Alhaji Ahmed Qassim, and other chieftains of the association has been adjourned till April 19.

    Qassim had approached a Lagos High Courtt sitting in Epe, to stop the association’s Financial Secretary, Timothy Adereti; Mrs Adebola Ajao; Kennedy Alogaga and others from parading themselves as leaders of the association.

    A leading telecommunication company was said to have paid about N12.5 million to the association headed by Qassim, for the renewal of the space on which its mast was installed.

    The money however triggered a controversy as members accused the leadership of the association headed by Qassim of foul play over the transaction.

    The controversy led to the call for Qassim’s sack while an interim executive committee was inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the association.

    Irked by the development, Qassim filed a suit before the court asking for a restraining order against members of the interim executive committee.

    In his ruling, Justice Abisoye Bashua granted the interim orders at the instance of Alhaji Qassim to continue to lead the association.

  • Lekki community gets traditional leader

    The Okuraye Community in Lekki, Lagos, has chosen Chief Ibrahim Mukail Adedeji, as its new Baale (traditional leader).

    Adedeji, who is from Idirokoku Ruling House, was chosen as the town’s leader following the death of Chief Yesiru Olawale Amusa last June 7.

    Adedeji is the town’s sixth Baale. It is the first time the Idirokoku Ruling House will have the privilege of producing a Baale.

    The other three ruling houses are Igbosere, Ipatun and Igbofirin, all of which have ruled for decades.

    A group, the Okunraye Committee of Friends Abroad, has congratulated Adedeji.

    The Idirokoku Ruling House was said to have been deprived the privilege for decades, while some unnamed politicians were said to have failed in their latest bid to sell the Ruling House’s right.

    The town is said to have about 25,000 inhabitants, most of who engage in fishing, farming and hunting.

  • Niger APC sacks majority leader

    Niger APC sacks majority leader

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has removed Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Ibrahim Dandodo.

    Dandodo, who represents Rijau Constituency, will be replaced with Nura Garba (Kontagora I).

    The sack was contained in a letter to the Assembly, where the party requested it to recognise Dandodo’s removal.

    However, some lawmakers have resisted this move, saying only lawmakers have the powers to elect their leaders.

    This development  has caused a cold war between the party leadership and lawmakers, as the party threatened to deny them tickets in 2019 if they refuse to act upon the letter.

    The lawmakers are standing on the House of Assembly Standing Order, Page 6, which states that the election of the Speaker and his deputy is the responsibility of members, while the rules of the House gives power to lawmakers to select their leaders.

    A lawmaker, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the receipt of the letter.

    He said the APC lawmakers were neither consulted nor involved in the decision.

    Efforts to get party’s secretary, Mohammed Liman, to comment were unsuccessful.

  • Community leader for burial

    Funeral activities for Mrs. Mercy Ifeoma Ifenkwe, mother of Organising Secretary of the Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sir Roy Iwuala, will begin with a service of songs on Thursday.

    A statement by Sir Roy Iwuala, on behalf of the family, said relatives, friends and well wishers will gather for an evening of songs and testimonials at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Anara, at 5pm.

    Lying in state will hold on Friday at the family house before proceeding to St. Andrews Anglican Church, for a commendation service, at 10am.

    The deceased, 77, died on October 30, after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband, Reginald Iwuala, six sons, two daughters, many grandchildren, brothers and sisters.

    She was conferred with the Nneoma title, the highest recognition for service reserved for women of the Okigwe Diocese of the Anglican Church.

    She was a community leader, who held various positions in Anara Women Association and was chairperson of the Women’s wing of the Umuneke Development Union (UDU).

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • How to be a good leader, by aspirant

    How to be a good leader, by aspirant

    Oyo State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Prof. Adeolu Akande has said only those with compassionate heart can provide purposeful leadership.

    He said the manifestations of bad leadership in the country meant that the people in leadership positions lack compassion.

    Akande, who, spoke at a leadership summit for Christian youths in the ancient Oyo, Oyo State said leaders must think of the people.

    He said every society have vulnerable members, which he identified as children, aged, disabled and the  poor who live below poverty level.

    He said the attitude of the leadership to these people in the design and implementation of government policies would determine whether those policies are pro-people or not.

    Akande said  leaders who are compassionate would support education policies that guarantee that children of the very poor in society have access to education.

    He said: “A compassionate leader will be bothered that some children would be denied education if school fees or levies are beyond the reach of the very poor in society.

    “Such a leader will support free education or policies that will make children of the very poor to access education. A leader who is not compassionate will see nothing wrong in such children not having access to education.”

    Akande explained that the disposition that detetmines whether government gives priorities to social services or focus on protects that would impact directly on the people depended on leader who are compassionate.

    Akande identified other ingredients of purposeful leadership to include vision, integrity, courage and communication skills.

    He explained that a leader without vision will either lead the people astray or stagnant in their  development aspirations.

    “A visionary leader must know where he is taking the people. He must see ahead of the people he leads and have clear ideas on how to take them to the desired destination,” he said.

    Akande said a leader must have integrity and his leadership must tell stories that guarantees the admiration and support of the people.”A leader must walk his talk. He must mean what he says.The people he leads must trust his judgement and pronouncements. His story must inspire and be assuring.”

    He said a leader must be courageous to lead the people to actualise his vision because many atimes,the people do not agree with where the leader is leading them.

    He added: ”The leader needs courage to walk his talk, having given proper thought to his vision for the society.”

    Akande cited the example of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who introduced free education in Western Nigeria in 1955, despite widespread opposition and blackmail of political opponents. He said Awolowo stood his ground on free education, despite the electoral threat it posed to his party and political career.

    He added: “Today, Papa Awolowo is acknowledged for the transformation  free education brought to the people of western Nigeria.He is known today for free education more than anything else.