Justice Riman Fatun of a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has faulted the extension of the tenure of Mr. Usman Baba Alkali, as the Inspector General (IG) of Police.
Accordingly, the court declared Usman’s appointment and continued stay in office as unlawful and unconstitutional.
Justice Fatun’s position was contained in a judgment delivered on May 19, 2023.
THISDAY sighted a Certified True Copy of the judgment dated May 23, 2023 yesterday.
The plaintiff, Okechukwu Nwafor, in the suit number: FHC/AKW/CS/58/2023, had asked the court to hold that the continued stay in office of Usman as IG is against the clear provisions of the Police Act, 2020.
While Usman had clocked 60 years on March 1, 2023, Buhari had in January extended his tenure, knowing full well that he was to clock 60 years which is the compulsory year for retirement.
The plaintiff had, amongst others, argued that only an officer within the listed rank, with four years in service, can be appointed as IG, not one with less than four years.
In his judgment, the court while granting the reliefs of the plaintiff ordered Usman to stop parading himself as the Inspector-General (IG) of Police.
Besides, the court ordered the President to convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint a new Inspector General of Police who will hold office for four years.
Other respondents in the suit besides President Muhammadu Buhari and Usman, are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice; and the Nigeria Police Council.
After listening to lawyers in the matter, Justice Fatun held that, “I find merit in this suit- Accordingly, judgment is entered in favour of the Plaintiff as per the reliefs”.
The court in arriving at its decision disagreed with the respondents that the plaintiff lacked the necessary locus standi to initiate the suit, stating that, “locus standi is not necessary on constitutional cases as the application of the concept could impede the administration of justice.
“There is liberalisation of the concept of locus standi where it involves constitutional matters. The Plaintiff is a Nigerian and tax payer as averred in his affidavit…which has not been controverted,” the judge held.
Fatun held that the Inspector-General of Police is a public servant and by virtue of the fact that he is a member of the staff of the Nigeria Police Force, an authority established from the Federation by Section 214 (1) of the Constitution and in subject of the Federal Public Rules 299 (PSR) thereof which provides for the compulsory retirement of all grades of public service officers at the age of 60 or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
“In the instant case, the 2nd defendant’s (IG’s) birthday comes first. By the said Rule, the 2nd defendant is obliged to step down on March 1, 2023. The PSR retirement age provision is mirrored in Section 18 (8) of the Police Act, on the word “Shall” is used in the provision, it is mandatory.
“Section 7 (6) of the Police Act provides for a four-year term or tenure for the Inspector General of Police and the word ‘Shall’ is also used in the said provision.”
The court further held that, “despite the prerogative power of the President, he is limited to the provisions of the Constitution. The Inspector General of Police retirement is a statutory and constitutional issue and no other law of the land can change the ground norm.”
The reliefs sought by the plaintiff include: “A declaration that by a communal reading of the provisions of sections 215(a) and 216(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Sections 7 (2) &(6) and 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, the appointment of the 2nd defendant is unlawful and invalid, the 2nd Defendant not being a person capable of fulfilling the mandatory requirement of tenure of office of Inspector General of Police and /or the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) having not been complied with;
“a declaration that the 2nd defendant is not qualified to hold the office of the Inspector General of Police for the sole reason that doing so will lead to absurdity which will amount to a complete breach and total disregard for the clear and unambiguous provision of section 7 (6) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020;
“a declaration that the 1st defendant has no power whatsoever to extend the condition for the retirement of a Police officer as contained in section 18(8) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, yesterday, said he has forgiven President-elect Bola Tinubu.
George, who analysed the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, declared that he failed to live up to expectations.
The PDP leader, in a chat with journalists at his Ikoyi office, added that the Buhari administration did not impact the lives of Nigerians positively, saying he failed to provide security which was his core responsibility.
His words: “My personal assessment is that he failed, not completely in every sector, but if you do an examination and say you must have a minimum of 33 per cent, then you can go to the next class, but they did not attain that 33 per cent. I can give them maybe about five per cent, even the five per cent requires a lot of retrospection. The most important thing you must guarantee to your people, as a government, is security of lives and property, who is safe now?
“So it is very very disheartening and heartbreaking that he failed in his number one job, which is to guarantee security of lives and property. You know when he was coming in, oga (Buhari) was telling us, I would fight corruption, I will secure the lives and properties of the people, I will do this, I will do that, all kinds of promises.
“So let’s put those promises now into his departure, because that’s what will be written on the pages of history. Whatever a leader does during his time, it is on the pages of history.”
Asked whether he would work with Tinubu if called upon, George said: “There is nothing personal, this country trained me and I have to give back.”
On his reluctance to endorse Tinubu, he said: “I have forgiven him, but you cannot forget.”
Ahead of May 29 inauguration for their second term in office, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, have submitted their Asset Declaration Forms to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
The Media Adviser to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
“In compliance with paragraph 11 part 1 to the 5th schedule of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that mandates political office holders to declare their assets on assumption and at the of their term in office, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat on Saturday submitted their Asset Declaration Forms,” the statement reads.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy have, by their action, satisfied section 185(1) of the same Constitution that makes it paramount for the political office holders to declare their Assets before they take oath of office.”
According to the statement, the asset declaration was administered to the governor and his deputy by a CCB board member representing South West zone, Professor S.F Ogundare, and witnessed by member Taofeek Olawale Abdulsalam, and the Lagos State Director of the bureau, Mrs. O Popoola.
Sanwo-Olu who was first elected in 2019, was declared winner of the state governorship election in March, after polling 762,134 votes to defeat the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olajide Adediran, who got 312,329 and 62,449 votes, respectively.
All is set for President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over the mantle of leadership to the 16th democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, tomorrow, Monday.
Tinubu, in a keenly contested poll, defeated his opponents, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi to emerge winner of the February 25 election.
Although the outcome of the poll was vehemently rejected by the opposition parties, the former Lagos Governor is set to be sworn-in as the President of the country.
DAILY POST reports that despite moves by aggrieved political actors to scuttle the May 29 inauguration, President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday, handed over the transition report to the President-elect, signalling the coming of a new and fresh political era.
Recall that amid a series of protests, particularly in the nation’s capital against the declaration of Tinubu as President-elect, the PDP and the Labour Party which came second and third respectively in the election, are seeking redress in court, alleging that their mandates were stolen by the ruling party.
There have been several lawsuits seeking a stoppage of the inauguration, alleging that Tinubu and the vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima are unqualified to even contest in the election.
But the move is yet to yield any positive results for the aggrieved politicians.
DAILY POST reports that delegates and some power brokers from across the world are currently in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to witness the long-awaited inauguration of Tinubu and his vice.
While a section of Nigerians are preparing their drums, flutes, and other musical instruments with their stunning cultural regalias to celebrate the incoming government, others who alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, imposed Tinubu on Nigerians, have continued to bow their heads low.
A pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Bwari Area Council Abuja, David Oyijeche lamented that despite the outcry by Nigerians on the irregularities that allegedly marred the February elections, Tinubu is being sworn-in.
He told DAILY POST that Tinubu is not the choice of the majority of Nigerians, stressing that those who voted against him, may also work against the incoming administration.
He said, “The election was nothing but a sham and even the one declared winner knows that he didn’t win the election. There is evidence everywhere indicating that the election was rigged.
“People who never voted in their lives, came out en masse on that February 25 but they were all frustrated by the outcome.
“There is a candidate that almost all Abuja residents voted for, the turn out on that day was shocking. Majority of residents were out to exercise their rights.
“Many people were expecting at least a million votes for the candidate but what did we see in the news? His votes were heavily suppressed. The same thing happened in Plateau State.
“Let us even assume that the figures are correct, the person that they crowned winner had over 8 million votes, the second and third had over 6 million votes each and the fourth also had over 1 million votes.
“If you sum the scores of the other three candidates, you will have over 14 million votes. This means that 8 million people voted for him (Tinubu) while 14 million people voted against him, so how does he represent the choice of the majority?
“By this, we can assume that those against him are more than those for him and in governance, you need the support of the majority to succeed”.
According to him, the electoral umpire ought to have cancelled the election and conducted a fresh poll.
However, in a counter reaction, Pastor Ayodele Johnson of the same ministry, told DAILY POST that Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the next president of the country was the total will of God.
Ayodele was of the opinion that even the alleged rigging wouldn’t have been possible if not allowed by the supreme God.
“There was never a time when we prayed for an election like we did in the recent one. All Christians prayed, many of us even fasted for days not really for a particular candidate to win but for the will of God to be done.
“1st John 5:14 said ‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us’. As a Christian, whenever we pray, we believe that God has heard us. And indeed He heard us when we cried to Him prior to the election.
“So if we have prayed and fasted for the election and we now have a winner, we should tell ourselves the truth that God wanted that person to win.
“It may not be what we desired but the will of God is always different from our will and who told you that there is someone that God cannot use? Bola Tinubu may even favour Christians more than the person we earlier wanted”, he said.
DAILY POST reports that several Nigerian youths who were galvanised by the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi during the election campaign, had staged a series of protests in Abuja aiming at ensuring Obi’s victory.
The Obidients believe that the election was manipulated by the electoral body in favour of the ruling party.
There also came calls for an interim government, though it was greeted with heavy criticism, causing a stir in the political space.
Countering the stance, the Deputy Country Director of African Youth Union Commission, Amb. Aguredam Moses told DAILY POST on Saturday in Abuja that all the political parties that participated in the election must have in one way or the other, involved in rigging.
He also expressed optimism that Tinubu’s government may not go bad as being insinuated in some parts of the country.
According to Moses, looking at Tinubu’s track record, the former Lagos Governor will beat the expectations of Nigerians.
He said, “People may say he is not the only one that built Lagos but I believe very well that Tinubu will beat the expectation of Nigerians.
“Looking at the calibre of business people he has met recently, has given me confidence that he will do better than his predecessors.”
Speaking on the alleged rigging, Moses said “our electoral system, both on the part of the electorates and the umpire have some form of manipulation.
“Both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party rigged the election in certain places. So I can tell you that some of the cases will be thrown out soon.”
[DailyPost]
President-elect, Bola Tinubu, has promised to dedicate himself to the service of the country once installed as Nigeria’s next president.
Tinubu made the pledged on Saturday in his inauguration speech in Abuja, according to the statement issued from the office of the president-elect.
Represented by Kashim Shettima, Vice President-elect, Tinubu lauded democracy, which he said “surpasses the most perfect dictatorship in terms of justice, humanity, and productivity”.
According to him, “Democracy is more than a system of governance; it is the very lifeblood that empowers a nation to flourish and thrive,” Tinubu said.
“We stand at the precipice of a new era, where the ideals of democracy will guide our path toward sustainable development.
“Democracy, my fellow countrymen, is not only a political system; it is a way of life.
“It embodies a distinctive code of thought and conduct, demanding the utmost integrity and self-improvement from leaders.
“Today, I stand before you, ready to dedicate my entire being to the service of our great nation and the African continent.
“Our democracy is not an abstract ideal; it is a practical vessel that will propel our nation to new heights in every facet of our collective existence,” Tinubu added.
Tinubu promised to employ and use available institutions to embark on rigorous reforms and undertake a comprehensive economic agenda to create jobs and create a prosperous country.
The inauguration lecture is part of activities lined up towards the inauguration of the new government on May 29.
Like Abuja,state capitals including Asaba, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Sokoto, among others, are in festive mood as new governors take over in 18 states of the federation tomorrow.
Power will change hands in Abia, Akwa Ibom,Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano.
There will also be change of guards in Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,Taraba and Zamfara states.
The governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo and Yobe are scheduled to be sworn in for a second term.
Law enforcement agencies in the various states have tightened security to avert any breach of peace.
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, has ordered maximum deployment of personnel, intelligence, and operational resources for effective policing with special attention paid to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, the venue of the ceremony.
Emeka in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, also directed that other parts of the state should be adequately policed.
Outgoing Governor Nyesom Wike has told the people of Opobo Kingdom to resist any temptation to antagonise the incoming administration of their kinsman and governor-elect, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“We also urge all of you who are from Opobo to continue to give your son support. Do not be the one that will fight him. Do not be the one that will pull him down. Be his engine room. Be his pillar,” he said.
“While others are trying to drag him down, you should be trying to make him stand firm. This is very important. To have a governor from your area is not easy. You know in 2015 you tried it, it didn’t work. Now that it is God’s time, has it not worked?”
Wike expressed joy that he was in Opobo to inaugurate the reclaimed land of over 20 hectares, which would solve the problem of land scarcity in the area.
The governor thanked the Opobo people and their Amanyanabo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja for their electoral support during the general election and in the last eight years.
Benue Governor-elect’s supporters clean up Makurdi ahead of inauguration
Supporters of Benue State Governor-elect Hyacinth Alia yesterday trooped out to sweep clean the state capital ahead of his inauguration.
The sanitation exercise was accompanied with singing, drumming and dancing on the major streets of the state capital.
The Director of Communications to the Governor-elect Kulas Tersoo told The Nation by phone that the people were shocked that Makurdi was left dirty despite the over N6billion said to have been spent by the outgoing government on the procurement of vehicles and equipment for refuse collection and general sanitation.
Alia spent the better part of Thursday and Friday with the men and officers of Nigeria Police at the IBB Square, Makurdi, for rehearsals ahead of tomorrow’s swearing in.
The Police Commissioner, Okoro Alawari Julius, has ordered all Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to emplace adequate security in their areas of responsibility.
Gombe Governor dissolves cabinet;removes all political appointees
Gombe State governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday dissolved the State Executive Council and terminated the appointment of all political appointees.
However, political office holders in statutory boards and commissions are excluded from this directive. Equally, Local Government Caretaker chairmen will remain in charge of their respective councils until the expiration of their tenure on 19th June, 2023.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya has also accepted the resignation of the Gombe State Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya. In his place, the governor approved the appointment of the Permanent Secretary/Principal Private Secretary ( PPS) to the Governor, Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi as Acting Head of Civil Service.
The governor expressed appreciation to all the relieved appointees for their invaluable support and contribution to the success of his administration and wished them the best in their future endeavours.
The governor, during a valedictory Executive Council meeting thanked the cabinet members for their sacrifices and dedication which saw to the success of his first tenure, noting that the achievements recorded by his administration would not have been possible without the efforts of the members whom he described as good team players.
Sokoto APC transition committee organises special prayer for swearing in
The Sokoto State Transition Committee of the APC yesterday held a special prayer session to usher in Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto and Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir as governor and deputy governor respectively.
Bashar Abubakar, spokesman for the APC leader in the state,Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, said the prayer to seek divine guidance for the incoming president and governor of the state.
The special prayer session was coordinated by Mallam Bashir Gidan Kanawa and conducted by 13 Islamic scholars.
Prominent among them were the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Jumu’at Mosque, Imam Malami Akwara, Sarkin Mallaman Sokoto, Mallam Yahaya Na Malam Boyi, Alkalin Mallaman Sokoto, Mallam Umar Ahmad Helele and Mallam Bello Kofa.
Other scholars included: Sheikh Abdul’aziz Kofar Rini, Sheikh Yahuza Shehu Tambuwal, Mallam Yusuf Labbo and Mallam Nafiu Malami Dan Haja, among others.
No handing over note to Otti until May 29 — Abia Govt
Abia State outgoing governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, said there would be no handing over note to his successor, Dr. Alex Otti until tomorrow.
Otti had pulled out his nominees from the joint committee set up to ensure a smooth transition.
He accused the outgoing government of non- cooperation.
Outgoing Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, John Okiyi-Kalu, in a monitored interview said the state government would not hand over any official document of the state to Otti when he hasn’t taken oath of office.
Okiyi-Kalu said: “We will not hand over the document to the incoming governor until he has taken oath of office.
“There is a reason for that. In that document, you have a lot of secret information concerning the running of this state. The security architecture information is there.
“If you now give it to someone who is not under oath and he is splashing it on Facebook as we have been seeing them do (they think that everything is for Facebook and radio stations). What does that do to the security of the good people of Abia State?
Meanwhile, the Umuahia Township Stadium and the International Conference Center (ICC) are wearing a new look ahead of Monday’s swearing-in of Otti as the 5th governor of the state.
El-Rufai hands over Transition Committee Report to Uba Sani
But it is a different case in Kaduna State where outgoing Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has handed over the Transition Committee Report to the Governor -elect, Senator Uba Sani, saying that, the incoming administration is lucky to have a working document to guide its operations from the first day in office.
The governor thanked members of the committee for doing a very good job, adding that the quality of the people on the committee was such that “I expect nothing less.”
El-Rufai also congratulated Senator Uba Sani for having a working document even before taking office, recalling that, “our 2015 Transition Committee Report remains our blueprint for all that we have done in eight years.”
Speaking shortly after receiving the report, the Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, pledged to study it thoroughly and implement most of the recommendations.
Niger Commissioners and Special Advisers to remain in office until Inauguration Day
Commissioners and Special Advisers in Niger State are to retain their positions until tomorrow, according to outgoing Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
But other political appointees were asked to leave.
They were asked to hand over notes and other government property in their possession to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs in the SSG’s Office on or before Monday, 29th May, 2023.
OKOWA fails to dissolve cabinet after valedictory session
Delta State outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa directed the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Commissioners and other exco members to remain at their duty posts until midnight of Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Okowa, who gave this directive at the valedictory session in exco chamber, weekend, in Government House, Asaba, said his administration’s success stories cannot be complete without members of the State Executive Council (Exco) being part of it.
He said his administration did not only construct physical bridges but built bridges of unity among the various nationalities in the state, adding that Deltans must remain united in their quest for more development.
The governor pointed out that the impact of his administration in terms of developmental projects ranging from roads and bridges infrastructure, health care, peace and security were novel particularly the youth entrepreneurship programmes that have turned several youths into entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
Lalong picks new head of service on eve of departure from office
Plateau State outgoing governor, Simon Lalong, yesterday unexpectedly announced the appointment of Rauta Dakok as the state’s new head of service.
Dakok is taking over from Mr. Sunday Hyat who retired from the service.
The new HoS was immediately sworn in by Lalong.
TBS wears new look as Lagos set for Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat’s second term inauguration
The Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS),Lagos ,is wearing a fresh look ahead of tomorrow’s swearing in of Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term.
TBS, located in Lagos Island and close to the Lagos House, Marina, on Saturday witnessed massive decoration and aesthetic improvements as members of the Inauguration Committee and vendors worked to give the venue a new look.
The VIP stand located at the centre of TBS wore a very exquisite and colorful look with the decorators still putting finishing touches to it as at Saturday afternoon.
There were some platforms located close to the VIP stand, where the rituals of the swearing-in would be performed during the inauguration.
Lagosians trooped out yesterday for the “Greater Lagos Exhibition”, a pictorial exhibition on the works of Governor Sanwo-Olu from May 29, 2019 to date.
The eight-day photo exhibition held at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, runs daily from 10 am to 6 pm, started last Sunday and will end today.
Kashim Shettima, the vice-president-elect, says there is no plot by the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu to Islamise Nigeria.
Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration lecture in Abuja, Shettima said Tinubu, the president-elect, who has not Islamised his family cannot do so to the country.
In the build-up to the February elections, the issue of religion elicited varied reactions after Tinubu, a Muslim from the south-west, picked another Muslim – Shettima from the north-east – as his running mate.
The Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket sparked controversy.
Reacting to the Muslim-Muslim ticket argument, Shettima said he deliberately picked an Igbo man, who is a Catholic, as his chief security officer and a northern Christian as his aide de camp for the purpose of togetherness.
‘I was a child of necessity, there is no Islamisation agenda. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim who is married to a Christian, not only a Christian but a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God,” he said.
“Someone who has not Islamised his family, people are alluding that he has the intention to Islamise the nation.
“Politics is about perception. As we begin the formation of a new administration, I deliberately picked an Igbo man, a Catholic, to be my chief security officer.
“For the purpose of inclusivity and togetherness, again I deliberately picked a northern Christian to be my ADC. So the so-called founder of Boko Haram is going to be protected by….”
Speaking further, the former Borno governor said the incoming Tinubu administration understands the seriousness of the work ahead, adding that they are ready to serve Nigerians.
“We are to serve. We are to listen. We are here to be held accountable. We are not sent on an evangelical mission. Therefore, like every mortal, we may stumble here and there. None of these mistakes could be intentional,” he added.
“We shall never be oblivious of the impermanence of this power and we acknowledge that we shall be judged by man and God.”
[TheCable]
President Muhammadu Buhari will make a farewell broadcast as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on Sunday, May 28, at 7 am.
Television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, weekend, x-rayed the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and declared that he has not lived up to expectations.
The PDP leader, in a chat with select journalists at this Ikoyi office, also noted that in all sectors of the country, the Buhari administration has not impacted positively the lives of Nigerians.
His words: “My personal assessment is that he failed, not completely in every sector, but if you do an examination and say you must have a minimum of 33%, then you can go to the next class, but they did not attain that 33%.
I can give them maybe about 5%, even the 5% requires a lot of retrospection. The most important thing you must guarantee to your people, as a government, is the security of lives and property, who is safe now?
“So it is very very disheartening and heartbreaking that he failed in his number one job, which is to guarantee security of lives and property.”
“You know when he was coming in, oga (Buhari) was telling us, I would fight corruption, I will secure the lives and properties of the people, I will do this, I will do that, all kinds of promises.
“So let’s put those promises now into his departure because that’s what will be written on the pages of history. Whatever a leader does during his time, it is on the pages of history”, he said.
Asked whether he would work with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu if called upon, George said: “There is nothing personal, this country trained me and I have to give back.”
On his reluctance to endorse Tinubu, he said: “I have forgiven him, but u cannot forget.”
Aisha Buhari, wife of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that his husband was not mentally prepared for the task ahead of him, saying that she was aware that he actually needed help.
The Firsl Lady said she was relentless in her support for her husband and prioritised the welfare of Nigerians.
The president’s wife said she openly criticised decisions that were “taken for the interest of one person and not for the general public’s interests”.
Aisha made this revelation in an interview with The Sun published on Saturday, while speaking on her time as first lady and the performance of her husband in office.
She said some decision-makers were oblivious to the fact that her husband was elected because of the love Nigerians have for him.
Aisha said, “So, I told myself we cannot afford that, I just knew my husband needed help,” she added.
“That is why I am here as a First Lady and as a wife. I don’t like people who want to make money to rubbish the image of the family, the hard-earned name of my husband, you know, and then we keep quiet and look at the person.
“So that’s why I normally step in and speak up.”
Aisha, however, said President Buhari fulfilled half of his campaign promises.
She said insecurity has been significantly tackled under the administration of her husband.
The First Lady said, “Compared to what we met on the ground, he has done wonderfully well. But if one is to compare with the zeal that we came into power, we have achieved 50 percent in all the areas captured in his campaign promises. Especially in the areas of works like road constructions, bridges, you know, infrastructure in general. He has made a lot of difference.”
On security, she scored the president 70 percent, noting that most kidnappings were perpetrated by family members for mischievous purposes.
“I think maybe we scored 70 percent on security. I say so because before now, there were a lot of barricades, a lot of roadblocks, but now there are no more roadblocks, nothing,” Aisha said.
“Even the kidnapping that is happening now is being organised among the family members. It is a deliberate thing, you know. And then the insurgency or the banditry may be organised by some local people, you know. But if there is no connivance, I can say that we have achieved 90 percent on security.”
According to Aisha, the president “received Nigeria intact, and he is going to hand over Nigeria intact”.
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Federal Government on Saturday conferred citizenship to no fewer than 385 foreign nationals across the continent of the world by naturalization and registration.
The government has also approved new pathways to permanent residency for eligible foreign nationals to be executed by the Minister of Interior who is vested with the power to execute the new guidelines for conferment of citizenship on foreign nationals.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, conferred the citizenship on the eligible 385 applicants for the Nigerian citizenship at a ceremony in Abuja.
Those granted Nigerian citizenship included 8 Brutish, 6 Americans, 8 Isreali, and 187 Lebanese amongst others.
Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his remarks, spoke on the new pathways for conferment of citizenship of foreign nationals
According to him, “His Ministry had sought and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council to execute new pathways to permanent residency for eligible foreign nationals.
“The Minister of Interior has therefore been vested with the power to: Execute guidelines for Permanent Residency for foreign nationals of African descent who desired to make Nigeria their homeland through the ‘Privilege of Return’.
“Execute and clarify existing guidelines to provide Permanent Residence to foreign nationals who desired to invest in Nigeria in line with established guidelines
“Execute and clarify guidelines to grant Permanent Residence to foreign nationals who had demonstrated exceptional talents, knowledge and skills in rare fields of Science, Technology, Medicine, Engineering, the Arts, Sports and other areas as might be determined from time to time.
“Execute guidelines to grant Permanent Residence to male foreign nationals married to Nigerian women for a minimum period of one year”
Aregbesola took the audience through history of conferment of Nigerian citizenship on foreigners since inception, disclosing that the first person to be naturalised as a Nigerian was Miss. Theresia Chidiac of No 16A, Manchester Road, Kano, Nigeria on 18th July, 1964.
This was premised on Section 7(1) of the then 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which separates, by definition, a Nigerian from non-Nigerian.
“Today’s conferment ceremony will be granted to 385 foreigners who have gone through diligent checks by the relevant agencies of state as stipulated by the Constitution and have fulfilled all statutory and administrative requirements.
“I need to state that the acquisition of the Nigerian citizenship is a great privilege and not everyone that applies becomes successful. However, that we have a high number of foreigners willing to become Nigerians is an indication that the ongoing efforts of the Federal Government to make Nigeria a destination for investment and peaceful coexistence is beginning to yield good fruits as we continue to welcome foreigners to do business here who, after interacting with us, are now desirous of becoming one of us.
“I must state also that it is under our administration that the largest number of foreigners have been naturalised. Between 2011 and 2013,a total of 266 foreigners became Nigerians. In 2017, 335 people took up Nigerian citizenship. But last year, 286 foreigners and today at this ceremony, 385, making a total of 671 have acquired Nigerian citizenship.
“I am still not pleased with this figure. In Europe and America, thousands of foreigners are inducted into citizenship every year. They do this to attract youths and people in their prime who would like to contribute to the development of their countries. Let’s face it. There is a limit to your expectations from a non-citizen and it is reasonable to expect an average person to be more loyal to his or her country.
“The bane of the smooth pathway to Nigerian citizenship however is the constitutional requirement of continuous residency in Nigeria for 15 years.
“This is a huge disincentive, considering that in the United States and most European countries, it is five years. Some of these countries have made a habit of snatching young and resourceful brains – who after four years of schooling and working for just one year – through easy pathways, to obtain quality migration to their countries,” he said.
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has dismissed the rumours in the media that its presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is planning to dump the party for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso recently met with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Paris, France, where the duo discussed several national issues and was this week in Niger State to commission projects. After the 2023 elections, NNPP has a total of 38 House of Assembly members-elect, 18 House of Representatives members-elect, 2 senators-elect and a governor-elect.
But the national publicity secretary of the NNPP, Dr Agbo Major, while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said Kwankwaso will never dump the party for any other parties as he is a pan-political party politician whose relationship cut across various political platforms. He added that Kwankwaso and elected party members believe in the principles, agenda, programs and manifestos of the party.
Agbo said as the leader of the party, Kwankwaso believes in Nigeria’s unity and will continue to relate with other leading politicians across the country. He however said that NNPP has made it difficult for any politicians that contested and won on the party’s platform to cross to other parties.
“We have always said that what divides politicians is the campaign period. After campaigns, it becomes one country. You understand what I’m talking about and that is what is killing us in Africa and our democracy. If you go to advance democracies, people are divided temporarily during campaigns and after campaigns, the agenda becomes one and that is the country.
“He (Kwankwaso) is one man who is a politician across all levels. He has had stints with all these political parties in the past and his friends are still there. Supposing I know to tell you that going to Niger State to even chair the inaugural lecture for the incoming governor of Niger is an arrangement to bring the governor across to NNPP it will sound funny to you. So it is a two-way thing.
“But I can tell you that our presidential candidate is a leader of the party. This is the party he believes in. This is a party his movements that he came in believes in. Don’t be afraid he is not going anywhere.
“But as I said he is one man whose relationship with people cut across more political platforms. You will see more of that. Like yesterday (Friday), he was with the governor of Kaduna State commissioning about four or five projects. The other day he was in Rivers, a PDP-led State where he also commissioned projects. Maybe by the time the governors are inaugurated, we will make arrangements for him to go to Abia, a Labour Party state so that you can see that he is a pan-political party politician. The party has taken its firm roots. There is no cause to be afraid. We are good to go. We are looking at 2027.”
Meanwhile, the party has said that the swearing-in of the governor-elect of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Monday, May 29, 2023, will herald democracy at its finest in Kano as it will bring in trust, effective leadership, responsibility, equity, competence, justice, patriotism, sanctity and dignity of life as summed up in the NNPP motto.
“They (the elected representatives) should reenact Engineer Musa Kwankwaso’s era in the state which was characterised by massive reforms, development and provision of infrastructure, agriculture, education, transportation, health, housing, security, sports, wealth creation and social amenities.
“The success of the party in Kano State will expand its frontiers across the nation in the people’s quest for a new, better and prosperous Nigeria. All eyes are on NNPP’s government in Kano State to point the way forward to the nation as the foremost party in Nigeria. We must justify the confidence the people reposed in our party anchored on good governance.”
The party also called on the security agents to be alive to their constitutional duties to crush terrorism, tackle insurgency, militancy, banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping in the country.”
— Urges Tinubu’s administration to embrace diversity
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rt. Reverend Mathew Hassan Kukah, on Saturday, declared that no country, business, family, or organization has a future if it doesn’t figure out how to manage diversity.
Speaking at the inaugural lecture on the topic, “Religious tolerance and inclusiveness”, the Catholic Bishop described diversity as a science, a complex country of great possibilities.
The fiery cleric challenged Nigeria’s political leaders especially the in-coming administration of Bola Tinubu to rise up to the challenge of uniting different ethnic groups and identities in the country, adding religion, ethnicity, and gender are not the problem but rather how to manage the nation’s diversities.
He said Nigerians are suffering from various levels of multi-dimensional poverty, saying that poverty doesn’t discriminate between religions, tribes and other identities
According to him, “I will also end by saying right now 133 million Nigerians are suffering from various levels of multi-dimensional poverty.
“I have not put up the light and seen the part where Muslims are living that they have light, while others for not. I have not seen the part of the country where Muslims are eating and the rest of us are not. So we must come to terms with the fact that we are not bleeding.
“We are not suffering because we are Christians or Muslims, but we are in a country that is malfunctioning. How to make that country work, for the rich, for the poor, for the aged, and for everybody is a challenge.
“It is not a challenge that everybody can win but I think it’s a challenge that a government that appreciates it doesn’t have all the answers, must come to terms with the fact that there is a way of looking for her finding answers.
“I would like to just end by saying and I’ve made the point very clearly, in the struggle with the problems of Nigeria, I remain exceptionally optimistic. I travelled the world. People say to me, well, where do you find this courage to say that Nigeria is working? Okay, it may not be working, but this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I am not being flippant.
“When I went to the United States of America to study, I preached in a church but the parish priest said to me, listen to me, you speak with such eloquence and I like you, we will get you a green card, you can settle here in America. I looked at him, I said, you know, this God is a wonderful God. You are giving me a green card and my passport is actually a green passport.
“So, the young Nigerians leaving our country, I always say to them, no, I’m not worried. Let them go. It’s for the good of the country.
“The challenge for us as Africans is to think the way the Asians have thought that you can go to Europe, you can go to America with a purpose. But the purpose of course means coming back to develop your country but it also means that that country must create an environment in which you can feel confident to come and present the gift that God has given you.
“I have two young men in America who just finished a prestigious university, I say when are you coming home? They say Bishop coming home to do what? We do not have an uncle who is a senator, we don’t have anybody so coming to Nigeria to do what?
“Vice President-elect, the challenge for you is to make this country believable, livable, credible so that all of us together can serve and build a great nation.”
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto Abubakar III, Sa’adu Abubakar, expressed gratitude to God for witnessing the seventh consecutive democratic transition of power in the country, without any major hitch or crisis.
“This in itself is a significant achievement, in which both the winners and those who did not win. I don’t call them losers. Those who won and those who do not will share in the credit.”
He drew the attention of the incoming administration to levels of poverty and ignorance in the land only made worse by the rising population of Nigeria, which is estimated by the United Nations to be well over 400 million by 2050. Which will make Nigeria the third largest populated country in the world after India and China.
The monarch said, “As political leaders, you will need not only think of the next election but also and more importantly, think of the next generation.
“I leave you with these thoughts and pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and patience for leaders to take our country to the highest height. And we have peace and stability in our great country Nigeria.”
The planned inauguration of Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, on Monday, May 29, was Saturday solidified following the suspension of the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, which last week, purportedly voided his candidacy.
The Court of Appeal Kano, suspended the judgment of a Federal High Court that purportedly nullified the primaries that produced the Labour Party (LP) candidates in Abia State.
The court presided over by Justice Mbaba further granted the application of Dr. Otti to appeal as an interested party while suspending the judgment of the Federal High Court pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
The Appeal Court order was made in respect of the motion for leave filed by the Abia Governor-Elect to appeal as an interested party against the judgment of the Kano Division of Federal High Court delivered on 18th May 2023 in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/107/2023.
Similarly, the Appellate Court granted an order for stay and suspension of the judgment of the lower court delivered by Justice Yunusa J. pending the hearing and determination of the appeal for which leave has been granted.
Otti had in his response to his purported sack last week, accused the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State of masterminding the judgement, an allegation the party flatly denied.