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  • Speakership: S/East APC publicity secretaries push for Onyejeocha

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretaries in the South East Wednesday met in Enugu and demanded that the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives be zoned to the South East.

    To this regard, they endorsed and supported Hon. Mrs. Nkeiru Onyejeocha who is representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia state for the position.

    They also posited that her occupation of the seat would not only balance the regional equation but would also take care of gender equation in the scheme of things.

    At the meeting include Bennett Godson of APC Abia state, Kate Offor of APC Enugu state, Nwoba China of APC Ebonyi state and Okelo Madukife of APC Anambra state who coordinated the conference.

    According to them: “The South East need to come into the equation of the 6 top most positions in the country. We have now many APC House of Representatives members unlike in 2015 when there was no qualified candidate from the zone due to party affiliation.

    Read Also: APC chieftain to Saraki, Dogara: stay off selection of NASS leaders

    “It is our considered view that we are endorsing and supporting Hon. Mrs. Nkeiru Onyejeocha for the position.”

    They listed her being a lawyer, one Local government chairman, a former commissioner and being the chairman of House Committee on Aviation for 12 years as some of the credentials that qualified her for the position.

    “In all the positions she has held, she exhibited a high level of competence and with that, she will bring forth her experience and motherly disposition to bear,” they pointed out.

    They stressed the fact that as a woman, she would be seen as a representative of the womenfolk, adding “It is high time women be given the opportunity. Train a woman, you have trained a nation.”

  • Adeleke’s nullification: ‘why Judgment won’t stand test of time’

    Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SAN) have said that the FCT High Court judgment which nullified the nomination of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 2018 Governorship Election in Osun, cannot stand the test of time.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Isreal Olondare (SAN) said that the judgment was not a sound one because the law stipulated that a person aspiring to any political office must be educated up to school certificate level.

    “The ruling cannot stand the test of time because during the trial, it was the prosecution that subpoenaed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to come and tender the result of Adeleke in court.

    “They tendered the result and it was confirmed that he wrote the exams notwithstanding that maybe he failed the papers.

    “The constitution of Nigeria says that any person aspiring to office must be educated up to school certificate level it didn’t say that the person should have grade one or so on.

    “Since there is evidence that he was educated up to school certificate level, he is qualified to contest,” the senior lawyer contended.

    Moreover, he questioned the legality of the FCT High Court having jurisdiction to try a matter that arose from Osun state.

    On his part, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN), a counsel to Adeleke said that they were grossly dissatisfied with that judgment and would appeal it before the close of business on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Court: Adeleke unfit to run for Osun governor

    “We are appealing against it and before today expires, we will file our notice of appeal against that judgement because we do not agree with any of the reasons given.

    “We contended that our candidate having brought a certified true copy of the result of the examination he took in 1981 as ordered by the court with supportive affidavit, that in itself is sufficient to say that he is qualified.”

    According to Oke, you don’t have to pass the exam of WAEC before you can be qualified, the moment you make an attempt, is suffices, which is the requirement of the law.

    Justice Oathman Musa of an Abuja High Court, Bwari Area Council of Abuja on Tuesday, nullified the nomination Adeleke as candidate of the PDP in the Sept. 2018 Governorship Election in Osun State.

    Justice Musa annulled Adeleke’s nomination on the grounds that Adeleke offended Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The section stipulates that candidates for the position of governor must be educated up to secondary school level.

    According to Justice Musa, while the court’s findings show that Adeleke entered secondary school in 1976, there is no record to show that he actually graduated as his name is no longer seen in the school’s register from 1980.

  • APC chieftain to Saraki, Dogara: stay off selection of NASS leaders

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has asked Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to stay awayfrom the processes leading to the emergence of the leadership of the 9th Assembly.

    Nabena told newsmen in Abuja that the APC has learnt its lessons from the outgoing Assembly when those he described as impostors took over the leadership of the legislature, frustrating efforts of the Buhari government to effect positive change in the country.

    The APC chieftain who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC said the decision of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on the selection and zoning of principal offices in the incoming 9th National Assembly is supreme and must be respected by the party’s legislative caucus and opposition federal lawmakers.

    He said “The APC has learnt its lesson from the outgoing National Assembly when impostors masquerading as party men sabotaged our party and hijacked our mandate. Affliction shall not rise up the second time.

    Read Also: Saraki, PDP ploting to hijack Ninth National Assembly, Nabena alleges

    “The efforts by the Adams Oshiomhole leadership of the party are commendable in achieving a fair selection and zoning arrangement that appeals to a greater section of the party stakeholders.

    “APC is the overwhelmingly majority party in the National Assembly and has a legitimate right to make its choices on the selection and zoning of principal offices. The APC family is in agreement on the party’s supremacy and the PDP and other opposition parties should focus on their minority positions.”

    He stressed that outgoing Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the PDP NASS caucus has been moving from pillar to post to frustrate the plan of APC by through a hidden evil plot to interfere in the emergence of incoming National Assembly leaders.

    “We are aware of the scheming by Saraki, Dogara and the PDP caucus to interfere with the emergence of the incoming National Assembly leadership. Their plans are bound to fail as the APC is a strong party with unity of purpose,” Nabena said.

  • Union confirms release of 8 Nigerians abducted in S/Africa

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa has said that eight of its members abducted by South Africans in Evander, North-West of Secunda in Mpumalanga Province of that country were released early on Wednesday.

    Mr Adetola Olubajo, the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria that the abducted Nigerians were released following pressure by the union on the South African authorities.

    Olubajo said that Nigerians at Evander in Mpumalanga Province had informed the union about attacks on Nigerians in that province.

    “According to witnesses and one of the survivors, Evander locals went on rampage in the early hours of April 2 and attacked businesses and property owned by Nigerians.

    “The mob arrested eight Nigerians and took them to an unknown destination,’’ he told NAN.

    Olubajo said that the union had informed the Nigerian mission in South Africa about the incident, urging them to intervene and put an end to the attacks on Nigerians.

    He also urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law abiding and avoid acts capable of putting them in trouble or tarnishing the image of the country.

    Read Also: Community decries killing of Nigerian in South Africa

    Earlier, Mr Christopher Ogugofor, the leader of the Nigerian community in Evander, said on telephone from Mpumalanga on Wednesday that the Nigerians were abducted from their shops on Tuesday.

    “They (South Africans) started attacking and looting our shops on March 29. But on Tuesday, April 2, they took away eight of our members to unknown destination.

    “They were taken to an unknown destination and no ransom was demanded.

    “We reported the incident to the Nigerian Union. For now, we have taken protective measures and some of our members are in safe places out of the town,’’ he said.

  • Our decision on NASS leadership supreme – APC

    Mr Yekini Nabena, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the party’s decision on the selection and zoning of principal officers for the incoming 9th National Assembly is supreme.

    Nabena stated this while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the party’s decision must be respected by its legislative caucus and opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly.

    He, therefore, cautioned the outgoing President of the Senate,Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to steer clear of the leadership in both legislative chambers.

    “The APC has learnt its lesson from the outgoing National Assembly when impostors masquerading as party men sabotaged our party and hijacked our mandate; affliction shall not rise up the second time.

    “The efforts by the Adams Oshiomhole leadership of the party are commendable in achieving a fair selection and zoning arrangement that appeals to a greater section of the party stakeholders.

    “APC has overwhelming majority in the National Assembly and has a legitimate right to make its choices on the selection and zoning of principal offices.

    Read Also: APC, Niger South Senatorial seat and travesty of justice

    “The APC family is in agreement on the party’s supremacy and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties should focus on their minority positions,”he said.

    According to Nabena, the outgoing President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the PDP NASS caucus have been moving from pillar to post to frustrate the plan of APC.

    He said the PDP had a hidden evil plot to interfere in the emergence of incoming National Assembly leaders.

    Nabena said that the APC was aware of the scheming by Saraki, Dogara and the PDP caucus to interfere with the emergence of the incoming National Assembly leadership.

    “Their plans are bound to fail as the APC is a strong party with unity of purpose,” he said.

  • Relief as firm donates accommodation to Abuja displaced orphans

    An investment company based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has donated four units of three bedroom accommodation to shelter over 130 orphans recently displaced by the Department of Development Control.

    The development is part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility.

    Presenting the building, the Chief Executive Officer of Cosgrove Investment Limited, Mr. Umar Abdullahi said the donation was also in line with the company’s policy of caring for the less privileged in the society.

    Abdullahi revealed that since the news broke out a couple of days ago, the firm has been making arrangements to see that the displaced children are accommodated in a decent environment for a reasonable period of time, stressing that the children will be sheltered for a period of one year by the company.

    According to him: “this is not the first time Cosgrove has embarked on humanitarian service as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We have provided educational service to the less privileged in the society and just recently we constructed 1.5 kilometres road in Katampe district in Abuja to ease movement for residents of the area.

    Read Also: Court remands Islamic cleric over alleged defilement of neighbour’s child

    “So, when this happened, we felt we should come to their aids to cushion the effect of these affected children. And we will continue to render such humanitarian services whenever the need arises”.

    Responding, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Christian Ohaa, commended the firm for coming to the aid of the FCT Administration in time of need.

    Ohaa called on other firms operating in the Federal Capital Territory to emulate the firm in assisting the less privileged in the society.

  • Lagos Assembly members-elect to receive Certificates of Return Friday– INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Lagos State says it will present Certificates of Return on Friday to the 40 members-elect of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    The INEC Public Relations Officer(PRO), Mr Femi Akinbiyi disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

    “The event will take place at the INEC Lagos office Sabo Yaba at 10 a. m.

    “The members were elected among the 640 candidates that contested the March 9th House of Assembly elections,” Akinbiyi said.

    Read Also: Wike ahead as INEC continues collation in Rivers

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 40 seats in the Assembly were won by candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the March 9 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections.

    INEC had on March 29 presented Certificates of Return to the Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat at the commission’s office in Sabo, Yaba.

  • Buhari congratulates Chief Odeyemi at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Chairman Board of Trustees of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and one of the founding fathers of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief John Odeyemi, who clocks 80 on April 4.

    According to a statement by the President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday, the president joined the business world in celebrating the consummate businessman, industrialist and philanthropist.

    President Buhari noted that Odeyemi’s zeal to serve God had continued to speak in his service to the nation and humanity, while his dedication to success had inspired and produced huge gains for individuals, institutions and communities.

    According to him, Odeyemi, who holds many titles, including Obasewa of Ife, typifies the virtues that any nation should be proud of seeing in a citizen, which include the fear of God, disciplined and focused lifestyle, and a penchant for excellence through diligent work.

    Read Also: Buhari turns down $1b Ajaokuta completion fund bill, seven others

    As a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and member of many blue chip companies within Nigeria and beyond.

    President Buhari also saluted Obasewa of Ife’s visionary leadership qualities and his entrepreneurial spirit, urging him to keep sharing his wisdom of prudence and propriety with fellow citizens, public and private institutions.

    The President, who shared in the joy of the milestone with family members, friends and business associates as Chief Odeyemi turned an octogenarian, prayed that the Almighty God would remember his investments of love in people and the nation.

    He also prayed that God would grant him longer life, good health and more wisdom.

  • Kolade not killed by stray bullets, family insists

    Kolade Johnson was not killed by police stray bullets as widely reported, his family has declared.

    Rather, he was deliberately shot and killed by trigger-happy cops.

    His foster, Alhaji Remi Lukman, told our correspondent exclusively on Tuesday at the family’s residence in Lagos that stray bullets couldn’t have penetrated his body twice.

    He claimed the family has video evidence to prove the deceased and his friends were aimed at the policemen as against media reports they mistakenly fired.

    Lukman said: “We have been hearing that it was a stray bullet but I must tell you that a stray but cannot penetrate twice. If he had not directed the gun at them two bullets will not touch him.

    “He was the hope of the family and a gentle boy and as I am talking to you, I have gone beyond this level and I’m just trying to set everything in motion to prove it was not stray bullets at all.”

    Describing how the incident happened, the foster father said: “He was just there at that spot catching fun with his friends and watching football match, which of course anybody could have done.

    Read Also: Family of slain Kolade Johnson demands justice

    “It was a response to a lady screaming kidnappers that made them all leave the Kingston Jo eatery to come out to know why the lady was shouting kidnappers.”

    He described Kolade as the hope of the family, a gentle boy who was very intelligent.

    “You really needed to have known him. He was a very gentle boy. Some of the video clips will carry in summary the kind of person that he was.

    “While the gunshots were fired towards the group the video clip shows that he was walking behind them all. He wasn’t intrusive at all.

    “It was just unfortunate that he happened to be a victim in the group. All we are asking for is justice and what these people have done to us should be done to them.

    “He was gentle, intelligent, full of future, the family had a bright hope concerning him and it is very unfortunate that someone like him died at a very tender age.

    “He’s a very gentle boy, listened to home training and we trained him well.”

    Elder sister of the deceased, Toluwani Lukman, also described him as her companion, saying she will miss him for so many things.

    Late Kolades’ niece, Khadija Lukman, added the deceased never got angry and was a good cook.

    Deceased’s mother, Mrs. Esther Odebiyi kept quiet all through the interaction with the family, ostensibly soaked in sorrow.

  • Family of slain Kolade Johnson demands justice

    The family lawyer of slain Kolade Johnson, Wale Ademoyejo, has demanded for justice over the gruesome murder of the 2012 University of Benin Business Management and Enonomics graduate.

    He said Johnson, who was killed by trigger-happy policemen, while watching English Premiership match last Sunday in Onitepesi, Lagos, must not die in vain.

    Ademoyejo told our correspondent on Tuesday in the family’s residence that the death of Johnson must teach policemen how to use their guns.

    He said: “What we are seeking is justice. Justice not only for the father, not only for the person that was killed but for the whole community and Nigeria as a whole.

    “So, if you allow them go scot free with this particular action, they will continue to do the same thing and we want that to stop.

    “Who knows, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos could be the Inspector General tomorrow. They should start from now and start reorienting the police on how to use gun.

    “Gun is not a toy. If Nigerians are so used to watching home videos and taking it to reality, they should re-orientate them.”

    He added: “The way Nigerian Police behave, this should have been a good opportunity to let the police know that they don’t know how to use gun.

    “The philosophy behind the use of gun should be observed properly and the truth is I have seen a police man using his gun to open a bottle of beer.

    “Is that how it is done? If you say you have freedom of using gun, has it ever been heard that a police officer faces his mother and shoot her or faces his son or brother or any member of his family?

    “But all they can do is to shoot people any how just to prove a point. What kind of point? They have power to take life, who gave them that power?

    “There is a social contract delegate that power to them? And why should you now turn back against those people who gave you that power.

    He continued: “Secondly, if you look at the Nigeria armed forces, they don’t use gun anyhow and they could use the gun.

    “They are trained to kill but they do not use it except it is absolutely necessary with order from above. They don’t abuse the gun but use it wisely.

    “The Nigerian police should talk to their people, retrain them how to use gun and they should let them know the philosophy behind the usage of gun and it should be the last option and it could be used after taking the last order from their superior officer.”