Former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has been released again from prison.

Naija News understands that Zuma appeared at the Estcourt correctional facility on Friday morning and was released under a remission process.

This is coming after the constitutional court last month rejected an attempt to overturn a decision by a lower court that found Zuma’s earlier release on medical parole unlawful.

The Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa had months ago ordered the former president back to prison.

The apex court directed Zuma to finish his sentence for contempt of court.

Recall that Zuma’s initial arrest two years ago led to violent protests across South Africa that saw over 300 people killed.

Zuma, 81, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for defying a court order to participate in a corruption inquiry into high-level corruption during his nine-year tenure as president.

He, however, handed himself over to authorities in July 2021 but was released on medical parole due to ill health two months later.

The former president has since denied all corruption allegations against him

000 PREAMBLE.

The Afenifere held its regular monthly Meeting today, 8^thday of August 2023, at the Isanya Ogbo Ogun State, country home of our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo who presided over the Meeting which was attended by delegates from the member states of the Organisation.

After intensive deliberations on the state of the Nigerian Federation, the Meeting observed and Resolved as follows:

2.00 AFENIFERE AND THE NIGERIAN FEDERATION.

2.01 MEETING affirmed and reiterated the historic position of Afenifere as a political group and the rallying platform for social welfarist progressive ideals inexorably  committed to the greatest good of the greatest number of Nigerians and invariably the conscience of the Nigerian state.

2.02 Recalled that when Nigeria at infancy was in the wilderness and even colonialist Britain in search of the requisite political structure that best suited its vast, diverse and polyglot territory, Afenifere founding fathers provided federalism as the veritable  compass and path to freedom, peace and progress of the emerging giant of Africa.

2.03 Through thick and thin even in the days of military dictatorship, the voice of Afenifere not only resonated in the wilderness but courageously led from the front that the way of the federation be kept straight and back to democracy and true federalism.

2.04 Our founding fathers did not see being in the opposition as a hindrance but a veritable tool to doing good in the interests of the people.  

2.05  Thus as Nigerians eagerly await the courts for the fearless and just determination of the true holder of their sacred mandate, Afenifere is further resolved that no person or group of persons shall hold the reins of power, even for one day, except in the proven interest of Nigeria in their peaceful, prosperous and harmonious diversity.

2.06 That the current comedy of errors in the governance of Nigeria is unprecedented and calls for so much concerns of all compatriots that silence may be inadvertently interpreted as complicity, which is not in the character of Afenifere.

3.00 ECOWAS INTERVENTION IN THE AFFAIRS OF NIGER REPUBLIC AND NIGERIA’S INTEREST.

3.01 Meeting reiterated the abhorrence of the Afenifere to any undemocratic access to power either through the barrels of the gun or electoral brigandage. We hold it as evidently true that military coup and any form of subversion of the constitution and the electoral process as a means of access to power are equal and mutually antithetical to democracy.

3.02 Afenifere condemned unreservedly, the currently  military takeover of the Government of the Republic of Niger and declared that there is no justifiable reason for such an undemocratic act.

3.03 That in the same manner in which the removal of oil subsidy was announced and currently plunged the nation into a myriad of socioeconomic problems, the cavalier and hasty decision by the ECOWAS to intervene in the internal affairs of Niger not excluding the possibility of the military option,  has further submerged Nigeria in needless crises affecting the socio-economic fabric of the nation.

3.04 That while Afenifere believes that Nigeria cannot afford stand aloof on matters affecting the  stability and peace of the West African sub-region, nay Africa, it owes   overriding duty to the national interests of Nigeria and her citizens.  

3.05  That Nigeria and Niger are not only culturally interrelated but also socioeconomically interdependent. Thus any armed conflict in  Niger will have harmful effects on Nigeria.

3.06 That Nigeria can ill-afford the price of war in Niger with costs in money, materials and men and collateral damage to the ancient and sustained relationships between our countries.

3.07 That without much ado, Afenifere calls on the ECOWAS to adopt the option of diplomacy in dealing with the issue in the Republic of Niger.

3.08 Afenifere strongly urged the Nigerien military to see the illegality and futility of usurping the sovereignty of the people of Niger to democratically decide who rules them and immediately return to the path of constitutionality which restricts their duty to the defence of the territorial integrity of the Nigerien state.

4.00 APPOINTMENT OF 48 MINISTERS AND AUSTERITY MEASURES.

4.01 Afenifere condemns as most unconscionable that a government pleading for  understanding and sacrifices from the people, aftermath of a sudden and harsh removal of petrol subsidy and other cowboy economic policies, would present such unprecedented humongous list of 48 ministers and other such appointments for political appeasement in search of legitimacy.

4.02 Afenifere noted that it is most bizarre that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians whose daily preoccupation is how to eke a living and sometimes lay their heads wherever their tired limbs are bended are subjected to the spectacle of opulence and irresponsibility by their political leaders.

4.03 That it is painful that Nigerians are saddled with a parliament that is powerless in the face of this executive rascality the likes that makes the hapless people see  no difference and jump on the streets singing praises of unconstitutional power adventurers.

4.04 That this interim period in the political life of the country has further abysmally exposed the pretences and hypocrisy of those who have often paid lip service to progressive inclinations as rapacious power mongers without a thought for the people.

Dated and issued at Isanya Ogbo, this 8^th day of August 2023.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

Leader

Chief Sola Ebiseni

Secretary General.

The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reportedly withdrawn his interest in President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial appointment.

Naija News learnt that El-Rufai lost interest in serving in President Tinubu’s cabinet after a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

Recall that El-Rufai visited the President a day after the Senate confirmed 45 ministerial nominees after a week-long screening and confirmation.

The upper legislative chamber, however, withheld his confirmation and those of two others, citing security reports from the State Security Service for the action.

The two others were a former senator from Taraba, Sani Danladi, and a nominee from Delta State, Stella Okotete.

A presidency source who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES revealed that El-Rufai was no longer interested in becoming a minister due to his current doctorate programme but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.

The sources said, “He also told the president that he needed time to focus on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands.”

The former governor is studying for a doctorate in public policy at the United Nations University, Maastricht.

Another insider also told the publication that El-Rufai suggested a new ministerial nominee, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, for Kaduna State, saying the President would find him helpful and resourceful.

Also, during the meeting, President Tinubu also told the former governor he received petitions critical to his ministerial nomination.

The President, however, demanded 24 hours of grace to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.

At that point, El-Rufai responded that he was no longer interested in being a minister since it appeared some forces around the President were scheming intensely to block his emergence as federal minister.

Recall that El-Rufai disclosed during his confirmation hearing on 1 August that Tinubu asked him to work with him on the country’s power problem.

According to him, the President had given a target of seven years for Nigeria to stop experiencing power outages in the country.

Speaking on the development at the Tuesday meeting, El-Rufai reportedly told the President that since he would no longer be in the federal executive council, he would return with his team to present the preliminary work done so far on the energy sector.

The International Rights Group has sent a position letter to the ECOWAS leaders as they meet today 10 August 2023 on the Niger Republic Coup crisis in Abuja.

In a letter signed  by the lead counsel of the group Dr. Olukayode Ajulo expressed their concern over recent actions taken by ECOWAS.  Here is the full statement:

Statement of Position

We express our deep concern regarding the recent actions taken by ECOWAS, whose primary mandate is to ensure peace, economic benefits, and harmonious relationships among member states.

Specifically, we question the issuance of a 7-day ultimatum and the mention of military operations as an option in the current Niger coup crisis. Not only is the military option unpopular, but it is also an expensive endeavor with a historically low success rate of 15% and, in this instance, an expected success rate of 0% since the individual to be restored is already in the custody of the junta.

It is important to acknowledge that our armed forces are highly professional and have always been dedicated only to maintaining peace. We remember the days of ECOMOG with great pride.

While we condemn any form of insurrection or coup, however, we strongly urge the abandonment of the military intervention. Not only is it ineffective, expensive, and unpopular, but it will also result in unnecessary loss of lives and may be considered an act of aggression, violating numerous international charters, protocols, and declarations.

Specifically, such military intervention would contravene Articles 1, 5, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Articles 1(2), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Articles 1, 3, 22, 23(3), 25(1), and 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948; Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Declaration on the Right to Development 1986; Articles 6, 15, 31, 63, and 64 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States; Article 10 of the Supplementary Protocol (A/SP.1/01/05) amending the Protocol (A/P.I/7/91) relating to the Community Court of Justice; and Articles 10(c), 22, 26, 27, 28, and 56 of the ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Security 1999.

Our decision to approach the Community Court of Justice of ECOWAS stems from our commitment to averting a potential World War III scenario, considering the interests of France, America, Russia, China, in Africa in the face of the present debacle.

We strongly implore the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, as they convene today, to fulfill their obligations as outlined in Article 22(2) of the Protocol of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which we have invoked and brought to their attention.

Article 22(2) mandates that *’When a dispute is brought before the Court, member states or institutions of the Community shall refrain from any action likely to aggravate or militate against its settlement.”

We believe that the focus on military intervention should not overshadow the potential effectiveness of alternative measures, such as imposing economic sanctions and exerting political pressure on the current junta. These non-military actions can be powerful tools in addressing the Niger coup crisis.

This tale is not an unrivaled woe!

Viva Africa! 

Caveat Emptor: What is adopted and said here is pending the judiciary determination of who ultimately becomes the Nigerian president.  

“Let me dispense with any political correctness and say it loud and clearly that, any attempt to invade Niger Republic by a Nigerian led ECOWAS Army in the guise of “safeguarding democracy”, will be a declaration of war on northern Nigeria and its people because we are the ones that will bear the full brunt of this misguided war. We in the region will not support any act of unprovoked aggression against Niger Republic under any pretense”- Usman Yusuf 

In the course of the last presidential election campaign, 

It was Vice Presidential candidate Kashim Shettima who first pitched Lagos state as a governance exemplar and a role model for governance at the national level. And to whom does the honour of the superlative performance record belong other than his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (who governed Lagos state for eight years, and continues to rule the state since the expiration of his governorship tenure in 2007). 

Quite the megalomaniac, and in the intimation of a co-presidency to come, Shettima could not resist the hubris of conferring on himself a similar cause celebre status (of being the security crisis management expert behind the deescalation of the boko haram insurgency). Nigeria would therefore become doubly lucky were they to have the good sense of voting the Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket. 

He went ahead to prescribe a comparative advantage division of labour which recommends that Tinubu should appropriately take charge of the Nigerian economy while the responsibility of keeping Nigeria safe should be entrusted to him. The ‘imagination run riot’ dimensions of this yarn was quickly called into question in the outcome of the February 25th presidential election in Lagos state. When the motion to affirm the authenticity of the Shettima testimony (regarding his mentor) was put to vote before the Lagos state electorate on February 25th 2023, the nays had it by a wide margin, never mind the INEC cooked up narrow margin defeat.

If the state of the pudding is in the eating, the certainty today is that a super majority of Nigerians would daub Shettima with the robe of a fraudulent promoter.  

Former governor of cross river state, Donald Duke, was not convinced that his erstwhile colleague and friend truly won the February 25th presidential election. He was nonetheless of the generous opinion that his friend may aposteriori earn legitimacy by how he grapples with the challenge of governance from the get go. I have not heard from Duke since he laid out this parameter but in rational assessment, it is difficult to see how the president can be deemed to have passed the Donald Duke eligibility test.

Let us even assume without conceding that Tinubu did well with Lagos state. But then, he was a much younger and vigorous person back in the day and the inevitable ageing process is bound to take its toll, not to talk of the speculations of a Buhari type debility. It gets more complicated, when we factor in the fact that there is little wiggle room for the latitude of a leisurely pace open to a state governor. It is, for instance, not the ken of a state governor to worry about the often exacting demands of foreign policy. Think of the burden of the Niger republic hoopla that has fallen pat on his palms (in his capacity as the chairman of ECOWAS and the President of Nigeria). 

Regardless, given the prototype northern proxy politics of his emergence, I’m impressed by the assertion of independence discernable in his administrative and policy making orientation so far.The ultimate test of this autonomy course of action proclivity is what he does with the advocacy of the supreme remedy of a long overdue constitutional review of Nigeria’s political structure aka restructuring. Moreso, in the face of a constant opposition of his (pan Islamic North) voter base.  

Given that the Yoruba are the most adamant protagonists of the constitutional review (restructuring) of Nigeria, there is an element of internal contradiction in the Yoruba support for Tinubu presidency regardless of his lack of commitment to restructuring.

If one were non judgemental, it can be argued that the support is informed by the pragmatism of facing up to the reality of Nigeria realpolitik.That if Nigeria is fated to remain unyielding to constitutional review and therefore unworkable, the next best option is to be at the driver’s seat and make hay before the final sunset descends on Nigeria. 

To locate the immediate cause of this resignation to fate, look no further than the scorched earth winner-takes-all northern irredentist politics of President Muhammadu Buhari. His regime exemplifies the worst manifestation of the nepotism of the turn-by-turn nepotism and serves a standing rationalisation of a similar disposition in his successors. 

What the Buhari precedence cannot adequately rationalise are the serial missteps and blunders that recently culminated in the incipient Niger misadventure. It all started with the lack of discipline exhibited in the perfunctory announcement of the withdrawal of oil subsidy. Impervious to this embarrassing lapse, the president went on to celebrate the gaffe as a stream of revelation knowledge worthy of God’s anointed one. He enthused “And then, Wale Edun and co, we started debating, putting my speech together without the question on subsidy. I got to the podium, I was possessed with courage and I said subsidy is gone.” 

In view of the initial incoherent response to the oil subsidy crisis, there can be no other reason his speech advisers waives a reference to the issue, than the absence of an in situ corresponding policy instrument. This then begs the question of how did the president utilise the interlude between the moment he was declared President-elect on March 1st and sworn in on May 29th?. Does this interlude not constitute a long enough gestation period to formulate an adequate short term strategy of addressing the most compelling governance issue of what to do with the oil subsidy crisis?. 

In the corrupt governance muddle that followed, out of a supplementary budget of N819 billion, N500 billion was appropriated for oil subsidy removal palliatives while a staggering N70 billion was simultaneously allocated “to improve the working conditions of the new members of national assembly”. I don’t know how many new members there are but they cannot be more than the full count of 460 men and women. Is there a better definition of lack of patriotism than the dedication of a whooping N70 billion naira (out of N819b) to the comfort of less than 500 Nigerians? And this at a time of dire economic emergency for a country rated as the poverty capital of the world. 

Further declaration of intent and marker for where Nigeria is headed under the Tinubu presidency was indicated in the revelation of his ministerial nominees. I had earlier offered the unsolicited advice of limiting the number of ministers to the mandatory constitutional prescription of 36-in demonstration of the prudence required by Nigeria’s economic circumstances. Not only was such reasoning discountenanced, the president actually surpassed the record of the previous administrations with a count of 48 nominees! And then there is the deplorable character profile of the totality of the nominees prompting an ardent supporter of the Tinubu to declare that “this government is doomed from the beginning”. Was this how Lagos state was governed?. For good effect, he also foisted his notorious corrupt buddy aka Gandollar as APC chairman. 

Prompted by the Buhari withdrawal syndrome, latent animus of the pan arabic northern region with Tinubu, rose to the surface at the open contemplation of a Nigeria led military intervention in the republic of Niger (to restore the democratically elected president). According to my Senator friend the north, the region has divested and ceded ownership of the Tinubu presidency to the South West. On top of it all, there is the bizarre tendency of drawing a parallel between contemporary Nigeria and the Nigeria of 1966.

They view the prospects of a military intervention in Niger spearheaded by Nigeria as a continuation of their internal difficulties with the Tinubu government. 

In historical perspective, the political character of the standoff between the government of Nigeria and the Niger republic is an echo of what the Premier of the defunct northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, dubbed the mistake of 1914.The mistake originated from the Berlin conference (during which Africa was arbitrarily sliced and diced by European powers and subsequently incorporated as colonies in their different sphere of influence) without regard to their cultural and national disparities. 

Niger is also theatre

to the triangular problematic involving America, Russia and France as spelt out with these thematic quips:

“America is on the verge of losing its most important ally in a crucial and unstable part of Africa”.

“The coup has now become what appears to be a geopolitical win for Russia and its Wagner Group paramilitary company in their bid to flip Western allies”

“The U.S. and Europe have made Niger the centerpiece of their fight against the spread of Islamic State and al Qaeda in Africa’s Sahel”. 

Under different circumstances, a successful Nigeria led military intervention in Niger reserves the potential of elevating Tinubu to the status of an international hero. Unfortunately, he is stuck with the reality that foreign policy is nothing but an extension and derivative of domestic policy. In that case, it would be foolhardy for the president to engage on a foreign policy adventure to which the majority of Nigerians are vehemently opposed especially with regards to those who shared blood and religious ties with the Nigerien people. 

More than fifty percent of Niger’s population are ethnic Hausa reinforced by the pan Islamic solidarity norm that prioritises the brotherhood of the umaa over Nigerian citizenship. President Muhammadu Buhari entered this perspective “I spoke to one Frenchman and I have to tell you this: I said to him, you people in 1885 sat down with ruler and pencil and drew the line. I have first cousins in Niger. There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are Fulanis in the Niger Republic”. 

The Lamido of Adamawa was more elaborate. Said the traditional ruler “My people and the people of Adamawa have got somewhere to go. I am the Lamido Adamawa and my kingdom extends to Cameroun. The larger part of my kingdom is in Cameroun. Part of that kingdom is today called Adamawa State in Cameroun. You see, if I run to that place, I will easily assimilate”

The Nigerian Army has denied reports that 25 soldiers resigned because of poor welfare and corruption.

An online publication had reported that 25 soldiers manning war vehicles in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps resigned to protest corruption and poor welfare conditions.

But the Army in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, said the soldiers resigned voluntarily, stressing that retirement in the service is routine.

It read, “The Nigerian Army is compelled to respond to insinuations in a publication attributing the resignation of 25 soldiers to allegations of corruption against the Nigerian Army.

“While it is true that approval was given for the voluntary discharge of the soldiers, the insinuation that the soldiers are proceeding on voluntary discharge due to alleged corruption is an implausible effort to frantically dampen the morale and fighting will of the loyal, dedicated, and patriotic troops of the NA, engender disaffection in the ranks and ultimately put the nascent Nigerian Government and nation in a panic mode.

It is not an aberration for the COAS to approve the voluntary discharge of soldiers, who willingly applied and met the terms for discharge from the NA, contrary to the mischievous manipulation of the occurrence by the media in question.

Refuting the poor welfare allegation, Onyema said the Army recently raised the Ration Cash allowance and provided a conducive environment for its personnel to effectively carry out their constitutional duties.

“It is on record that the NA has continuously strived to provide a supportive and conducive work environment and conditions for its personnel. This is evident in the NA’s continuous efforts to improve its operational capabilities, including the injection of equipment into the theaters of operations, prompt payment of operational allowances, including the Ration Cash Allowance recently increased by the new Chief of Army Staff, massive construction of new accommodation and extensive renovation of old and dilapidated buildings.

“These are in addition to the huge financial commitment to the medical needs of wounded-in-action soldiers, including medical evacuation overseas, award of scholarships to children and wards of fallen heroes, and other unique interventions in the theatres of operations to sustain troops’ morale, ” the statement added.

He also said the Army had implemented a policy aimed at rotating troops on the frontline.

The statement added, “Equally important, is the deliberate implementation of the Army Headquarters plan for troops’ rotation from the frontline. Hence, issues of overstay and battle fatigue are gradually being surmounted and becoming a thing of the past.

Suffice it to state, that the NA under the leadership of Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, probity, and professionalism by providing exemplary and pragmatic leadership, Sound Administration, that will continue to boldly guarantee the welfare and motivation of NA personnel, as well as provide requisite enablers for operational effectiveness, while maintaining public trust. “

Says Naira Currently Undervalued

Folashodun Shonubi, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), unveiled significant insights on the Nigerian Naira’s value during a lecture titled ‘Diaspora Remittances and Nigeria Economic Development,’ hosted at the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja.

Shonubi underscored the Naira’s substantial undervaluation based on economic modeling using the purchasing power parity concept. “An economic modeling of Nigeria using purchasing power parity would reveal the current significant undervaluation of the Naira,” Shonubi revealed during his address.

He emphasized the importance of enforcing strict measures to curb illicit remittances, channeling them into legitimate avenues to optimize economic growth. Shonubi also announced plans to form a panel that would conduct unannounced visits to banks suspected of illegally trading in dollars.

“We intend to expose and criticize commercial banks engaged in such illicit practices,” Shonubi stated firmly.

Addressing challenges within the existing remittance framework, Shonubi highlighted that the cost of sending money to sub-Saharan Africa from diaspora sources remains approximately 8-9% per $100, the highest globally. In an intriguing observation, Shonubi noted that while Nigeria received around $16.7 billion in remittances, a substantial portion of these funds continues to circulate outside the formal financial system.

“We are striving to encourage individuals to channel funds through formal channels rather than relying on informal routes, a challenge for effective management,” Shonubi emphasized.

Although efforts to incentivize formal market participation by offering a N5 rebate were implemented, this approach proved insufficient in the open market context, leading to the discontinuation of the N5 rebate. Acknowledging the importance of incentives, Shonubi expressed the need to attract individuals to the formal financial sector.

Furthermore, Shonubi disclosed a terminology shift, stating, “We will rebrand the foreign exchange market, known as the I & E market, to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market, as it is the sole market we recognize.”

Ayodele Adeleke, the Commandant of the National Institute of Security Studies, highlighted the lecture series’ significance in enhancing the nation’s grasp of security issues. Adeleke emphasized the series’ strategic role within the 10-month course framework, designed to amplify understanding and stimulate focused discussions on pivotal topics.

Adeleke added, “Given the growing interconnections of economies, diaspora communities play crucial roles in fostering their nations’ economic progress, contributing significantly to overall economic growth.”

Shonubi’s revelations and CBN’s planned measures underscore the bank’s commitment to enhancing economic stability and promoting transparent financial practices in Nigeria.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, of the UK government has asked President Bola Tinubu to use money saved from fuel subsidy removal to fund education in the country.

FCDO’s representatives, Ian Attfield, who made the call at the end of the Inclusive Education project In Nigeria, (Supporting Mainstreaming Inclusion so all can Learn Equally, SMILE), in Abuja Wednesday, said: “For the next five years or so, I’m certain we won’t be having discussions about how we can mainstream some of the inclusive education elements.

“There are many major economic changes taking place, such as the changes in fuel subsidy. It should start being deployed to support the human development of Nigeria to build education and services, among other things, that young people need.”

Also speaking at the event, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, a nonprofit making organisation, Dr. Sunday Isiyaku, maintained that inclusivity in education remained the bedrock to national development.

According to him, government at all levels and communities need to ensure children with disabilities are included in the scheme of things as far as their education and future are concerned.

He explained how imperative inclusive education was to develop human capital, adding that the positive impact it had on the lives of children with disabilities and their families could not be overemphasized.

He said inclusive education was not only a basic human right, but also a powerful tool for achieving sustainable development.

In his remarks, the Technical Director, Inclusive Education, Sightsavers Global Team, Liesbeth Roolvink, said: “We have trained many people, we have so many champions now that could take this process forward in different places in Nigeria and that is our dream and our hope.”

One of the panelists at the closeout discussion, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, TAF Africa and Convener, Disability Inclusion Nigeria, Amb Jake Epelle, pointed out that there was lack of trained teachers on inclusive education.

Epelle also spoke on the need for awareness creation, funding and holistic education policy that disabused the mindset on having special schools for persons with disability but one school premises that would impact them positively and make it easy for them to integrate into the society.

He said: “When it comes to inclusive education, there is the need to increase the awareness because it is not many people that know about it. Many parents, especially parents of persons with disability, are hiding their children at home.

”How do we go to them to ensure that they are aware that these children they are hiding in their homes need education?”

However, he pointed out that special schools do not real make the desired impact on the education of children with disabilities because they find it difficult to be integrated into the society.

It’s not true, I’ll sink, swim with Obaseki — Shaibu

FOLLOWING his differences with Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, will join the All Progressives Congress, APC, next week, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The party’s National Working Committee, NWC, will receive him early next week, a high-ranking member of the ruling party at the centre, disclosed on condition of anonymity.

However, Shaibu’s flight into the APC appears to be facing turbulence on account of the stance of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who declared, yesterday, that the party is not a rehabilitation centre for distressed politicians.

Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the APC, and a two-term governor of Edo State, handed over to Governor Obaseki. As APC chairman, he denied Obaseki and Shaibu the party’s re-election ticket, which forced the duo to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which gave them tickets and they won re-election in 2018.

Meanwhile, Shaibu has distanced himself from the move to the APC, which he described as another lie from the pit of hell, insisting that he would sink and swim with Obaseki.

This came as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, restated its August 4 order halting the alleged plot to impeach Shaibu as deputy governor and deferred the matter till August 22 for hearing.

Shaibu’s decision to return to the APC, which was predicted by political analysts, followed his move to the Federal High Court to seek an injunction against an alleged impeachment plot against him.

Governor Obaseki had, however, said the move by Shaibu to seek a court order to stop his purported impeachment was preemptive, ahead of his defection to the APC.

Shaibu’s defection confirmed

The source said: “It has been confirmed. We have it on good authority that Shaibu has concluded plans to join the APC. He is to be received along with a few of his supporters into the party early next week by the National Working Committee of the party.

“Shaibu has been in talks with the state and national leadership of the party, even before the feud between him and the governor went public and he has been negotiating his way back into the party.

“The deputy governor has now perfected his defection to the party and we are glad and ready to receive him into our fold.”

Obaseki had, while addressing leaders from Edo North senatorial district, where the deputy governor hails from, said he was “not aware of any plot or scheme to impeach Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.

“So, the court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move to get a court order, keep his ticket and move to another party. I think it’s unfair for our party. We don’t need this sort of crisis.

“I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.”

Oshiomhole forecloses Shaibu’s defection to APC

In a veiled reference to Shaibu’s reported defection to the APC, Oshiomhole told journalists, shortly after paying a condolence visit to the family of the late Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, that irrespective of any political party in power, he wants peace for the state, adding that loyalty is expected in politics.

He said: “Regardless of party divide, it is my wish for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony because the supra-party to which we all belong to is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The rate of camping, decamping and re-camping shows that the only thing that is constant is Nigeria and not the political parties.

“What I read about somebody going to court to complain about being suspected of being impeached, I don’t know how courts adjudicate over suspicion.

“But let me say this, to say that somebody wants to run to the APC, I want to say APC is not a rehabilitation centre. I can tell you that for free.

“We in APC are satisfied the way we are; we are happy in opposition and we are not about to receive people who are coming because they have lost out. I want to say that there is no IDPs camp in APC.

“So, my advice is that those who are having challenges should learn how to respect their bosses. I have always advised people that whoever you work with, be loyal.

“I was here and I was unable to support my deputy to succeed me but my deputy never took me to court. And if there are people who always profit from crises, they cannot have my support.

“Regardless of what anybody will say, I come from only one of the clans in my local government, it would be nice if only my clan produced the governors but I know that Nigeria doesn’t work that way. There are those sentiments that people think that at this level of our development, things should go round.”

Defection to APC another lie from pit of hell – Shaibu

Reacting to reports of his defection to the APC, Shaibu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebomhiana Musa, said “hack writers are at it again.”

His words: “Mischief makers bent on destabilizing our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu.

They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the All-Progressives Congress, next week. There is no iota of truth in this.

“To further put a lie to this, the spin doctors claimed that the APC National Working Committee is set to receive him in Abuja. The question here for the discerning minds is that, is it the NWC of a party that receives a decampee into the party? Shaibu has never minced words, vowing to sink and swim with his principal, Governor Obaseki.

“This, he has said severally at public fora. In view of this, I plead with these characters bent on driving a wedge between Shaibu and his boss, Governor Obaseki, to put the Edo project and the people far above their own selfish interest.”

Court renews order halting plot to impeach Shaibu

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has deferred till August 22, hearing of the suit Shuaibu filed to halt alleged plot to impeach him from office as deputy governor.

Also, the court, in a ruling by Justice Ahmed Mohammed restated the order it made on August 4, which mandated all the parties in the suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Cited as 1st to 5th defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023, are; the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State.

At the resumed proceedings in the matter, yesterday, the 1st defendant, IGP, was not represented by a lawyer. The 2nd defendant, DSS, through its lawyer, Mr. I. Harold, told the court that it had yet to file any process to show cause why reliefs the deputy governor is seeking in the suit should not be granted.

He contended that the Edo State deputy governor was wrong to join the security agency as a party in the suit.

Besides, Herold, told the court that the agency has filed a counter affidavit to challenge the competence of the main suit.

Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. George Ibrahim, told the court that the IGP, who was not represented, was duly served with a hearing notice on August 4.

While Governor Obaseki was represented by Ms. R. Okotiebo, the Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Uzzi, announced his appearance for the Chief Judge of Edo State who is the 5th Defendant in the matter.

Following failure by some of the defendants to file their processes, Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter, even as he ordered the service of hearing notices on all the parties.

Justice Mohammed directed all the parties to continue to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the determination of the case.