The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party appears to have taken a different shape as disagreement between two camps continues to fester ahead of the general elections, write DIRISU YAKUBU and EL-AMEEN IBRAHIM

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party is showing no sign of abating with less than four months to the 2023 general elections. With the crisis taking new turns every week, hope of possible resolution appears far in the horizon. Currently, neither the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu on the one hand nor the five aggrieved governors led by Nyesom Wike on the other, have demonstrated sufficient eagerness to let go of their egos in the interest of the party.

For a party that once flirted with the possibility of presiding over the nation’s affairs for 60 unbroken years, the seemingly inability to forge a common front with a handful of months away to the polls, might jeopardise its chances of returning to the centre, thereby, postponing its bid to “rescue and rebuild” Nigeria.

Ayu has always claimed that the party is not in a crisis but marred by disputes and differences of political interest among members where discussions, and reconciliation, are ongoing. This does not remove the fact that the former Senate President started it all when barely a few weeks to the presidential convention of the party, he promised to let go of his plum office should a northerner emerge as candidate of the party.

Aware of the fault lines that have kept the country perpetually on her knees for decades, framers of the PDP constitution came up with the notion of equitable distribution of party positions and elective offices between the North and South.

Thus, when the party failed to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South as widely expected, Ayu, a northerner was taken to task of what to expect of him in the event of a northerner’s emergence as the party’s standard bearer.

Here was his response, “I’m a very democratic person and I will do everything to promote the interest and image of my party. If the PDP says I should step down after a presidential candidate emerges and happens to be from the North, I will be very glad to do so because what we want is to take over the government and run the government in the interest of Nigerians. So, I will sacrifice anything to ensure that my party wins.”

The man has since shifted his position though, arguing recently that only God can determine his fate as chairman of Nigeria’s largest opposition party.

Disturbed by the unkept promise, Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governors of Rivers, Oyo, Benue, Abia and Enugu states respectively have since formed a potent alliance against the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa ticket, threatening to swing votes against the party unless Ayu honours his words.

The governor had in his recent chats with the media accused the national chairman of the party of pocketing N1bn donated to the party by a Lagos businessman, and N100m by a governor.

The national chairman, while breaking his silence on all the allegations raised by the governor in one of the party’s forums, explained that he had never collected any money from anybody, adding that the N100m that was donated to the party by a former member was used judiciously for the rehabilitation of the PDP institute which was almost ready for inauguration. Wike also accused the national chairman of manipulating processes during the convention to favour a certain aspirant, among other allegations.

Last week, Ayu at a public function in his Gboko country home, reminded Ortom, Ikpeazu, Makinde and Ugwuanyi of the enormous powers he wields, saying he could stop them from realising their political ambitions in 2023; a development that elicited sharp reaction from Wike who dared Ayu to stop anyone if truly he had what it would take to do so.

Reiterating his call on the National Chairman to quit, Wike last week said the PDP would sweep the polls at all levels in Rivers State, except the presidency, noting that the state chapter of the party had yet to decide who among the candidates to support.

For Governor Ortom, however, Ayu’s outburst was nothing but a lame threat, lacking in substance and with zero prospect of playing out. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, Ortom insisted that his victory at parliamentary primaries was a people’s given mandate which neither Ayu nor his loyalists could overturn.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent outbursts by Wike and his camp, the immediate past National Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Tsauri, advanced reasons the party was finding it difficult, if not impossible to sanction the “erring” governors.

Describing the PDP as a unique political organisation, Tsauri urged the aggrieved governors to take a trip down historical lane to understand the philosophy shared by the founders of the party. This is even as he added that the powers bestowed on the governors by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) are such that disciplinary measures are not what the party should be thinking about in the interim.

He said, “The PDP was formed as an honest political organisation. The founding members are people of wisdom, proven integrity who know what goes and what comes. Most of these people have gone but they left their footprints in the sands of political history.

“The party does not wield the stick on members unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Certainly, the party cannot be thinking of punitive measures against its governors now. If you remember, the aspirants who contested the ticket with Atiku recently said they were going to meet with Governor Wike to find a way to appeal to him to sheathe his sword and embrace the party to help us win the election. This is the path we shall continuously explore.

“These governors must realise that it is better for their stark enemies to win elections on the platform of their parties than for their best friends to win in other parties. What Wike and his group are doing is because of the powers they have. The Constitution of Nigeria has given sitting governors a lot of powers.

“In fact, they are dangerously powerful. So, whatever they say, we can’t sanction them unless we get to the point where nothing else can be done. We are barely four months away from the elections but we shall continue to talk with them. They are very powerful but we cannot allow them to use that power against the PDP.”

That said, Tsauri told Wike and his loyalists not to forget that the PDP thrusted them into national reckoning at a time millions of Nigerians had no idea who they were.

“They should be looking at the morality of what they are doing. They should not bite the finger that fed them. We are not asking them to sheathe their sword by force. We are asking them to do so in the interest of the party. If they feel that they want to break the PDP to pieces, they will be breaking themselves to pieces.

“We don’t need to tell them that what they are doing is wrong; they know. Anyone who has promised to work with a candidate who is not of the PDP is doing anti-party activities,” he warned.

Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, noted that a lot must have changed in the mind of the governor given the series of interventions key stakeholders of the party are doing to bring the crisis to an end.

“Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics and I can tell you that if you ask Governor Ortom and others today, they may likely not hold the views you are talking about now. Ours is a democratic party and a critical component of democracy is the freedom to hold dissenting views. That is what has happened and because we are practising democracy, we are in order.

“We are doing everything to make sure the crisis is over but we won’t go to the pages of newspapers to discuss these issues. We assure Nigerians that our governors are with us and will be part of the process to rescue our nation from the hands of the incompetent All Progressives Congress,” he said.

Atiku’s camp reacts

Spokesman for the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala, in a chat with Sunday PUNCH, stated, “My answer will be very simple; Wike is desperately seeking attention and that attention he is seeking we don’t have time for.

“Every day of inaugurating projects, he will be dishing out diatribes, nobody bordered, nobody cared. He finished inaugurating both completed and uncompleted projects, then jumped from there to travel to London, France and nobody bordered and cared.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-11-06

Fellow Nigerians,

I address you today, with a deep sense of gratitude to God and a high level of appreciation to all Nigerians whose tremendous goodwill gave me the opportunity to provide leadership for our great country at one of the trying times in her history. ​Conscious that today’s address would be my last on an Independence Day as your President; I speak to the millions of Nigerians, who believed in me, propelled and stood by me in my quest to bequeath a country where all citizens have equal opportunities to achieve their lives desires in a peaceful atmosphere. ​I am honored to say that my story in the annals of Nigeria’s history is no household secret. My various attempts, failures and eventual successes in being elected as a Democratic President in 2015 was made possible by the majority of Nigerians. When you elected me, I readily acknowledged that the tasks before me were daunting but surmountable because of the growing national consensus that our chosen route to national development was democracy. ​This democracy was to be anchored on a clear understanding, application and the principles of separation of powers supported by a reformed public service that is more effective. ​I then pledged to Improve the Economy, Tackle Corruption and Fight Insecurity and this was further strengthened by my commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years as the central plank of my second term in 2019. ​To the Glory of God and His Grace as well as the commitment and passion displayed by many Nigerian supporters, we have made appreciable progress in these areas but not yet at our destination. Mindful of the task before us, we took some time in settling down and we re-positioned the Economy by providing strategic interventions in core areas at both the Federal and Sub-National levels. One of the areas where we have made significant progress is in the eradication of deeply entrenched corruption that permeates all facets of our national development. We strengthened the Institutions for tackling corruption and also cultivated international support, which aided the repatriation of huge sums of money illegally kept outside the country. ​The increasing number of prosecutions and convictions, with associated refunds of large sums of money is still ongoing. Furthermore, we would continue to block opportunities that encourage corrupt practices. In order to address Insecurity, we worked methodically in reducing Insurgency in the North East, Militancy in the Niger Delta, Ethnic and Religious Tensions in some sections of Nigeria along with other problems threatening our country. Our efforts in re-setting the economy manifested in Nigeria exiting two economic recessions by the very practical and realistic monetary and fiscal measures to ensure effective public financial management. In addition, the effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account and cutting down on the cost of governance also facilitated early exits from recessions. ​Fellow Nigerians, this administration removed several decades uncertainty for potential Investors in the Oil & Gas sector with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. This landmark legislation created opportunities for foreign investments in addition to improving transparency in the management of the sector. Our administration has given the desired priority to the Agricultural Sector through a series of incentives to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises that resulted in creating millions of jobs. Leading this initiative, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intervention in a number of areas as well as the Anchor Borrowers Program had created the required leverages for Nigerians towards self-sufficiency in food and the necessary attraction for farming as a business. The growing contribution of non-oil exports, especially in agriculture, information and communication technology as well as the performing arts to our national economy will enhance our foreign exchange earning capacity. ​We are confronting current economic challenges such as debt burden, growing inflation, living standards and increasing unemployment accentuated by our growing youthful population. These problems are globally induced and we would continue to ensure that their negative effects are addressed in our policies. ​This administration will continue to ensure that our fiscal policies are supported by a robust and contemporary monetary policy that recognizes our peculiarities in the midst of the growing global economic difficulties. ​This is evidenced by the recent Monetary Policy Committee decision to maintain all parameters, especially interest rates and marginally increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 14% to 15.5% and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 27.5% to 32.5%. It is projected that this would further insulate our economy from over exposure to uncertainties at the international market by restraining growth in core inflation. As we continue to de-escalate the security challenges that confronted us at inception of this administration, newer forms alien to our country began to manifest especially in the areas of kidnappings, molestations/killings of innocent citizens, banditry, all of which are being addressed by our security forces. I share the pains Nigerians are going through and I assure you that your resilience and patience would not be in vain as this administration continues to reposition as well as strengthen the security agencies to enable them to deal with all forms of security challenges. At the inception of this administration in 2015, I provided the funding requirements of the security agencies which was also improved in my second tenure in 2019 to enable them to surmount security challenges. We will continue on this path until our efforts yield the desired results. As we put in place all measures to ensure that Nigeria takes her place in the Comity of Nations, we recognize the importance of a well-educated populace as a panacea to most of the challenges we face. We have, therefore, pursued policies and implemented programs designed to create a literate and proficient society that ensures that citizens are availed with opportunities for life-long achievements. ​I must confess that I am very pained by the recurring disruption to our tertiary education system and I am using this Independence Day celebration to re-iterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available. This administration has made appreciable progress in redressing these issues that have been lingering for over eleven years. The Federal Government will continue to mobilize resources both internationally and nationally towards funding education to ensure that our citizens are well educated and skilled in various vocations in view of the fact that education is a leading determinant of economic growth and employment generation. Fellow Nigerians, we have also improved our health facilities, especially during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which attracted commendation of the global community. ​As you are aware, Nigeria was one of the countries that defied global predictions of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic because of our resilience, commitment and passion with which we individually and collectively managed the pandemic. This administration embarked on addressing critical ecological challenges across the country in order to mitigate the impact of Climate Change manifesting in the form of flood, soil erosion, desertification, air pollution amongst others ​We will continue to ensure that our infrastructure drive remains the key to Nigeria’s economic growth and for which every Nigerian will feel the impact. The Federal Government is already expanding ports operations to ensure that they provide opportunities for the growth of the Nigerian economy. ​We have also continued to accelerate our infrastructure development through serviceable and transparent borrowing, improved capital inflow & increased revenue generation by expanding the tax bases and prudent management of investment proceeds in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. To further open up our communities to economic activities, we have continued to boost our railway infrastructure with the completion of a good number of critical railways and at the same time rehabilitating as well as upgrading obsolete equipment. I am pleased to inform my fellow citizens that besides our emphasis on infrastructural development with its attendant opportunities for job creation, employment generation and subsequent poverty reduction, our focused intervention directly to Nigerians through the National Social Investment Program is also yielding benefits. ​There is hardly any ward, village or local government in Nigeria today that has not benefited from one of the following: N-Power, trader-moni, market-moni, subsidized loans, business grants or Conditional Cash Transfers. All the aforementioned programs along with various interventions by the National Social Investment program, direct support to victims of flooding and other forms of disasters have provided succor to the affected Nigerians. Fellow Nigerians, no matter what gains we make, without a good governance system anchored on electing credible leaders on the basis of free, fair, credible and transparent elections, our efforts would not be enough. It is for this reason that I have resolved to bequeath a sustainable democratic culture which will remain lasting. The signing of the Electoral Act 2021 as amended with landmark provisions further assures us of a more transparent and inclusive Electoral Process. ​Having witnessed at close quarters, the pains, anguish and disappointment of being a victim of an unfair electoral process, the pursuit of an electoral system and processes that guarantee election of leaders by citizens remains the guiding light as I prepare to wind down our administration. You would all agree that the recent elections in the past two years in some states (notably Anambra, Ekiti and Osun) and a few federal constituencies have shown a high degree of credibility, transparency and freedom of choice with the people’s votes actually counting. This I promise would be improved upon as we move towards the 2023 General Elections. ​As we begin the transition process to another democratically elected government, I want to implore all aspirants to conduct issues-based campaigns devoid of hate speeches as well as other negative and divisive tendencies. I also want to express my wish that we see more female and youth participation in the forthcoming electoral cycle. I am sure that our teeming and energetic youths now realize that violence generally mar elections and so should desist from being used by politicians for this purpose. ​Reforms in the public sector are already yielding results especially in the delivery of services. On this note, I urge the general public to demand for citizen-centered services from the relevant authorities. ​On the international front, we have continued to take advantage of our bilateral and multilateral platforms to explore cooperation with friendly countries and partners whenever these areas of cooperation are to the advantage of Nigeria. Fellow Nigerians, in the past few years we have witnessed and overcome a good number of challenges that would ordinarily have destroyed our Nation. However, the indefatigable spirit of the Nigerian people has ensured that we overcome our challenges. It is in this spirit that I call on all of us to individually and collectively bring to the fore in dealing with all our development issues. I was called to serve, along with my team, I saw an opportunity to create a better Nigeria which we have done with the support of Nigerians. Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria supported us in laying a solid foundation for the Nigeria of our dreams.

I thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-10-01

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has vowed to sue some media organisations including Arise News, Channels TV, and BusinessDay newspaper, for spreading “fake news and assassinating” his character over alleged drug trafficking case previously treated in the United States.

He accused the media organisations of working for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi.

During the week, documents circulated in the public space detailing a forfeiture of money via the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois purported to be linked to drug trafficking by Tinubu.

The documents however did not show that Tinubu was put on trial or that he had dealings with drug trafficking rings. The documents also showed the case was concluded about 30 years ago.

The matter led to Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000 in one of the 10 accounts linked to the former Lagos state governor.

Tinubu’s campaign also said the forfeiture was for taxes not paid on income accruing to the ruling party’s candidate.

On Saturday night, the Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, writing on the allegations via a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, said a suit would be filed over the case “sooner than later”.

Onanuga, who was reacting to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) denial of investigating a criminal case against Tinubu, further accused the media organisations of having been paid by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), Abubakar and Obi, respectively to spread fake news against Tinubu.

He stated: “All those people, including Arise TV, BusinessDay, and Channels TV spreading fake news and assassinating the character of Asiwaju Tinubu will meet us in court sooner than later.

“You have all thrown professionalism and objectivity to Jabi Lake because you are playing the script of your master puppeteers, Atiku and Peter Obi. The height of your shenanigans today was the wide use of a fake INEC statement.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-11-13

The crisis rocking Afenifere,the apex body of Yoruba socio-political organisation, got messier,after the immediate past leader of the group,Pa Reuben Fasoranti endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,after the current leader had initially endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour party,and had reportedly said leaders of the group would no longer converge on Isoya Ogbo, Ijebu home of the acting leader, Adebanjo. According to him, the meetings of the organisation will henceforth hold in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.The incumbent acting leader of the group,immediatey lambasted his immediate past predecessor,saying, “he (Fasoranti) has no right to come back to assume the leadership of the organisation after he had written a letter to resign in which he stated categorically that I (Adebanjo) is now the leader.”

Adebanjo’s response was in reaction to recent development, especially moves by Fasoranti to exercise control over Afenifere. Fasoranti

There were insinuations that following the shift of meeting venue to Fasoranti’s residence, Adebanjo may have ceased to be acting leader.

Crisis had erupted after the two elder statesmen made public their different endorsements of presidential candidates between All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

Fasoranti said Obi has not been endorsed by the group. “We have not deviated from the same principle. We still stand for the good of the people,” he said.

“I didn’t retire from the leadership of Afenifere. I was misinterpreted. I am still the leader of Afenifere. Afenifere is not endorsing Obi. We are endorsing Jagaban (Tinubu). As you can see the trend following the approval and the acceptability.

“Adebanjo cannot warn me not to welcome Tinubu. Adebanjo took a stand and I took a stand. We did not speak about Tinubu’s visit. It goes without saying that Jagaban is accepted and we approve of it. Obi has no stand in our mind at all.”

Adebanjo, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian, yesterday, said it was unfortunate that at Fasoranti’s age, he is allowing some younger elements to influence him with money and allowed himself to be dragged into this mess.

He said: “Where is that done that someone would resign for almost two years now and suddenly come back to say he wants to assume leadership? I am sorry for him. Maybe old age is affecting him. Which Constitution approves that? I am the leader of the organisation. Pa Fasoranti has no right to take any decision on behalf of Afenifere.”

Adebanjo’s outburst is coming on the heels of Fasoranti’s endorsement of Tinubu on behalf of Afenifere, in Akure on Sunday, which contradicted the earlier position of Adebanjo who had endorsed Obi.

Adebanjo, who laughed at Fasoranti’s statement, said they are waiting to see who would attend any Afenifere meeting in Akure.

Adebanjo said: “No problem. Let them hold the meetings in Akure and see the number of people that will attend. I am the leader of Afenifere. They are just trying to cause confusion and I won’t help them to do that.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-11-03

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has,has taken a worse turn,as the team of Rivers State Governor,Nyesom Wike,has finally pulled out of the campaign Council of the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Rising from their stormy meeting in Port Harcourt early morning on Wednesday, members of the team vowed not to partake in Atiku’s campaign activities pending the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Members of the group said none of them will participate in whatever capacity in the campaign council unless the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, resigns for a southern candidate.

Some members of the group were recently appointed as leaders and members of the campaign council for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Present at this defining gathering at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.

Others at the meeting are elder statesmen, Olabode George, Jerry Gana; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, among several others.

After over seven hours of private meeting from 7pm on Tuesday, September 20 to past 2am on Wednesday September 21, they gather to briefing journalists on the outcome, with George stating the shocker.

The decision of the Rivers governor’s camp comes some days to September 28, the official date for candidates to kick-off campaign as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-09-21

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom.

The meeting between the two leaders is the first since the ascension of King Charles III to the throne.

Buhari had travelled to the UK for medical checkup on October 31.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-11-09

The Oyo State Government has reacted to a claim by the Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), that it is responsible for the non-completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, saying he is economical with the truth.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, on Monday, the Oyo State Government said it is imperative to set records straight as a government committed to ensuring that the good people of Oyo State enjoy the dividends of good governance.

The statement reads:

Firstly, we need to clarify that two major projects, the dualization of the 8.2km Agodi – Gate - Old Ife – Adegbayi Junction Road and a few projects under the World Bank assisted Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) interface with the 127.6 km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project at CH 115-117, CH 117 and CH 125. In real terms, this stretch is less than 3 kilometers.

Secondly, we would have expected that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing would have reached out to us to find out how long we would need to complete the aforementioned projects being that Oyo State has been in communication with the Ministry. In fact, just about a year ago, we had requested permission from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (through the Director of Federal Highways) to dualize the underpass at CH 115 -117. We were advised to make sure that the diversion routes are completed before embarking on the diversion. We complied 100%.

Also, it is on record that the majority of the 22km stretch of the Lagos -Ibadan Express Road between the old Tollgate Ibadan – Ojoo is still work in progress. Earthwork between Iwo Road Interchange and Ojoo has only just commenced. While work between the Old Ibadan Tollgate and Onipepeye is still in progress and characterized by road diversions. With all this work yet to be done, why is the Federal Minister blaming the Oyo State Government for delaying the project?

Had the Federal Minister reached out to the Oyo State Government, we would have told him that although the contract for work on the dualization of Agodi-Gate- Old-Ife Road – Adegbayi Junction which includes an underpass interface with the Lagos Ibadan Expressway at Onipepeye had to be terminated at 60% in September 2022 due to slow pace of work by the contractor, whose contract was awarded under the previous administration, the Oyo State Government is in the process of re-awarding the remaining 40% with a February 2023 delivery date. We have also provided 500m diversions of the main expressway lanes from the impacted site to allow traffic flow on both sides. Similarly, the IUFMP projects also have 4-month completion schedules.

Given that the pace of work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been at 10/km per year (it has taken almost 10 years since 2013 for work so far done on the 127.6km stretch of road to be completed), it could take about 2 years to finish the work and get to CH 127.6. Why then will our projects with 4-month remaining be the source of delay of completion of the project?

One would also wonder why it was okay to skip the Lagos end of this project between Berger and Old Lagos Tollgate and the about 2 km stretch between Shagamu and Ogere, but it suddenly becomes impossible to skip the less than 3km CH 115-117 and 125 and continue work on the remainder 22km.

From all of the above, it is clear that the Federal Minister did not have the right facts right in ascribing blame for non-completion of the Lagos Ibadan Express Road to the Oyo State Government. Even after the less than 3km CH 115-117 and 125 is completed in February 2023, we doubt if the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project would be anywhere near completion to CH127.6.

E-signed:

Hon. Wasiu Olatubosun, Ph.D.,

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism,

Oyo State.

October 24, 2022.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-10-25

If the current crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party,is not nipped in the bud, Nigeria's main opposition party,may  collapse.As a result,the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the  and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, has begun crucial moves to save the party.He is leading a delegation of the PDP BoT, comprising some former governors, ex-deputy governors, ex-ministers and other top party chieftains to meet three of the aggrieved PDP governors.The meeting is meant to placate the aggrieved governors and prepare grounds for further negotiations that will stop the moves by ruling All Progressives Congress governors to woo the PDP governors to their side as the race towards the 2023 poll intensifies.

The PDP has been enmeshed in a major internal crisis after its presidential primary election that produces former vice president Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

Governor Wike Nyesom of Rivers State, who came second behind Atiku in the primary alleged foul play in the process and has insisted that the Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu must step down for a candidate from the South.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-09-15

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been sentenced to Kuje Prison over contempt of court.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on October 28, and sighted by newsmen on Tuesday, the EFCC boss was convicted of contempt of court in relation to the failure of the anti-graft agency to comply with a November 21, 2018 court order directing it to return a Range Rover and the sum of N40 million to the applicant in a suit.

The ruling, which was delivered on October 28, 2022, was on a motion on notice marked: FCT/HC/M/52/2021 filed by a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Rufus Ojuawo.

Ojuawo had filed a motion through his lawyer, R.N. Ojabo, in a suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 that the EFCC had refused to comply with the court order directing it to release his seized property.

However, in a November 21, 2018 ruling, Justice Idris discharged and acquitted Ojuawo on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

Idris had held that for the charge to succeed, the prosecution must prove that the defendant corruptly accepted the gift; that he accepted or obtained the gift for himself or for any other person.

He held that the burden was on the prosecution to prove all ingredients of the charge preferred against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt as required under Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011.

The court had also held that the anti-graft agency should return Ojuawo’s seized properties to him.In conclusion, I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove the two counts charge of corrupt gratification under S17 (1)(a) and (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“The defendant is discharged and acquitted on counts one and two of the charge.

“Consequently, the complainant (EFCC) is ordered to refund the defendant his N40,000,000 wrongly paid into ONSA recovery account and to return to the defendant his Range Rover Sport (Supercharged) forthwith,” Justice Idris had held.

The EFCC, however, did not comply with the judgement which made Ojuawo to file a motion in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/184/2016 that the EFCC had refused to comply with the court order directing it to release his seized property.

In the October 28, 2022 ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji held that, “The Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in contempt of the orders of this honourable court made on November 21st 2018 directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja to return to the applicant his Range Rover (Supercharged) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira).”

Consequently, the Judge ordered that Bawa should be committed to prison at the Kuje Correctional Centre for his wilful disobedience to the order of the court.

Justice Oji held, “Having continued wilfully in disobedience to the order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order of court made on November 21st, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.

“The Inspector-General of Police shall ensure that the order of this honourable court is executed forthwith.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC, in his response to an enquiry by our correspondent, however, said, “The Commission is appealing the ruling.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-11-08

Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been sworn-in as the governor of Ekiti State.

Oyebanji took his oath of office at the state’s government house on Sunday at about 12:53 pm.

The former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, was sworn in by the State Chief Judge, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.

Dignitaries present include the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong.

Others include Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) among others.

Oyebanji was declared winner of the Ekiti State governorship election after polling 187,057 votes.

He defeated his two closest challengers — Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 67,457 votes.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-10-16

William Samoei Ruto has officially been declared President of Kenya following his swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Karasani Stadium, Kenya.

He was sworn in by the Chief Judge, Martha Koome, on Tuesday at a ceremony held in the packed Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.

Attending were African Leaders,foreign dignitaries and those who matter in Kenya.

Amid cheers from the excited crowd, Ruto swore an oath of allegiance and another oath for the execution of the functions of the office.

Ruto also appended his signature to the corresponding documents, as seen in the live broadcast monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday.

With his inauguration, Ruto becomes the fifth president of Independent Kenya, and the second ethnic Kalenjin after the late Daniel Arap Moi to hold the office.

Hours before his inauguration, the outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated Ruto on his victory in the August 9 poll

“My family and I join all Kenyans in wishing the very best to our next President Dr. William Samoei Ruto and extending to him our warmest congratulations for receiving the mandate of Kenyans to lead us as our 5th president.”

The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo,alongside African Leaders like Yoweri Museveni of Uganda,Felix Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo,Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique,Presidents of Somalia,Rwanda,Burundi,Comoros and many more stakeholders in Africa,attended the presidential inauguration.

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Ayobami Adedeji Politics 2022-09-13