A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has alleged a move by some desperate politicians to overturn Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory at the Appeal Court at all costs.
Frank in a statement issued Thursday, called on the Supreme Court Judges to maintain their integrity and resist any attempt of subversiveness through inducement as regards the Osun governorship matter.
He said available intelligence suggested that the enemies of democracy and fascist elements operating in the ruling All Progressives Congress are bent on truncating democracy.
Frank revealed that the fascist elements were ready to use every state apparatus available in perpetuating mischief and subversion of legitimacy, as evident in the just concluded Adamawa governorship rerun election.
He stressed that the Supreme Court must be put on notice that Nigerians are interested in the outcome of the judgement by the Supreme Court and would continue to beam its searchlights on the discreet activities of the Judges, especially after the ridiculous decisions as regards Sen Ahmed Lawan and Sen Godswill Akpabio.
Frank added that with an overwhelming Court of Appeal judgement affirming the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the Osun State Governor and a previous Supreme Court judgment clearing all issues as regards his eligibility and certificates, it was clear that any further judicial exercise was akin to a witch hunt.
Frank said, “Howbeit, these same elements who’ve been operating without fear for consequences have once again arisen to compromise the integrity of the judiciary by vowing to upturn the decision of the Court of Appeal, by any means necessary in relation to the Osun State Supreme Court decision.”
“We are constrained to believe that indeed, recent decisions from the Supreme Court suggest that certain compromises may have been plausible by the outcomes of judicial matters.”
Frank noted that the hopes of many Nigerians were fast fading as they doubt the independence of the judiciary in the dispense of justice.
[DailyPost]
INEC Denies Allegation of Partisanship, Insists Officials Didn’t Hold Meeting with Any Adamawa Candidate
AdminThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations of partisanship in the recently conducted Adamawa Supplementary Elections.
Ahmadu Finitiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the election but it was not without some drama.
Recall that the collation of the election result was suspended for some days after the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa, Aisha Dahiru Binani as the winner when the results from the remaining LGAs had not been announced.
However, Binani has dismissed reports that she offered the whooping sum of N2 billion as bribe to an official to be declared winner of the election.
Also, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement issued Thursday said there was no discreet nocturnal meeting between its officials and any governorship candidate.
He said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a press statement by a candidate in the recently concluded Adamawa State Governorship election in which officials deployed for legitimate duty in the State were alleged to have undermined the electoral process after a discreet “nocturnal” visit to the Government House and ostensibly met with one of the candidates in the election who gave them a list of “collation and returning officers” deployed for the election.”
Okoye stressed that ordinarily, the Commission does not join issues with partisan actors, particularly where no evidence has been provided, but stated categorically that there was no such meeting
He added: “To set the record straight, no such visit or meeting took place let alone the compilation of any purported list of collation and returning officers. Such a meeting would have been contrary to the oath of neutrality that we all swore to.”
The National Commissioner noted that every conscientious observer would have noticed that the Commission appointed and retained only one Returning Officer for the Governorship election who also doubled as the State Collation Officer for the Presidential Election (SCOPE).
He explained that like all Returning Officers nationwide, he was issued with a letter of appointment by the Commission and the REC in Adamawa State was duly informed.
Okoye added that the list of Collation Officers was also forwarded to the State with every page of the list personally endorsed by the Chairman of the Commission well ahead of the arrival of the National Commissioners.
He emphasised that the same press statement created the impression that the national headquarters of the Commission specifically targeted Adamawa State in its deployment of National Commissioners and other officials with the sole intention of influencing the outcome of the supplementary election held on Saturday 25th April, 2023 and sidelining the REC, saying nothing could be further from the truth.
Okoye said for the record, it has been the standard policy and practice of the Commission to deploy National Commissioners, RECs and other staff from the headquarters or neighbouring States for supplementary or off-cycle elections where doing so was considered necessary.
He stressed that in the case of Adamawa State where supplementary governorship election was held in 69 polling units, two National Commissioners were deployed, while for Kebbi State involving 142 polling units, three National Commissioners were deployed.
Okoye noted: “Similarly, one National Commissioner each was deployed to Sokoto, Zamfara, Imo, Rivers, Ekiti and Ogun States. This has been the standard practice of the Commission of which all RECs are informed in advance.
“Therefore, Adamawa State was not specifically targeted. In all other States, the RECs worked cooperatively with the National Commissioners except in Adamawa State for reasons that are now obvious to all.”
The commission advised the public to discountenance these insinuations as nothing more than a claptrap.
The electoral body also advised those behind the mischief to desist forthwith as such fabrications have endangered the lives of its officials – both ad hoc and regular engaged in legitimate election duties.
The commission said its expected well-meaning citizens to act within the bounds of propriety and decency.
[ThisDay]
Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) will soon open the online application portal for the fourth edition of the Kwapreneur (4.0) — the state-funded initiative to support businesses and ideas of young entrepreneurs in the state.
KWASSIP was established in December 2019 through a legislative instrument to serve as a social safety net to fight extreme poverty and drive financial inclusion for underserved demographies in the state.
Kwapreneur, dedicated exclusively to young people, is one of the many components of KWASSIP. Owo Isowo and Owo Arugbo are some of the other categories under which tens of thousands of people have benefitted between 2019 and now.
KWASSIP’s Ag. General Manager Abdulquawiy Olododo said in a statement that the Kwapreneur 4.0 will serve to reach out to more young people who require such lift as a means of driving microeconomic growth and job creation.
“The online portal for applications will be opened for 30 days between the 24th of April, 2023 and 23rd of May, 2023 for prospective applicants to apply with their business plans,” the statement said.
“We encourage small business owners in Kwara State to take advantage of this opportunity and apply for Kwapreneur 4.0. The agency will release the application link and continue to give updates as the process gets underway.”
Olododo said several micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have benefited from this laudable initiative of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, where MSMEs are provided with financial support to help their businesses.
It is a testament to the administration’s commitment to making Kwara State a better place to live, invest, and work, he added.
[Nation]
Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank, recorded N152.90 billion net profit for the period of 2022, earnings report released on Thursday disclosed.
This is a -4.49 per cent decline when the N152.90 billion profit after tax is compared to the N160.09 billion net profit posted in the same period in 2021.
Access Holdings’ profit before tax was down as well during the period in review, falling by 5.04 per cent to N167.68 billion, which is N8.9 billion lower than the N176.58 billion reported in the preceding year.
The company’s 42.8 per cent growth in gross earnings failed to save Access Holdings’ net profit depreciating between January to December 2022.
According to the consolidated and separate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, the gross earnings closed last year with N1.38 trillion.
This means the annual turnover of Access Holdings in 2022 is N416.02 billion more than the N971.88 billion generated by the financial institution in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings proposed a final dividend of N1.30 kobo per share for its shareholders for the financial period of 2022.
Ripples Nigeria learnt that the final dividend of N1.30 kobo is worth N46.20 billion, which will be shared among its shareholders holding 35.54 billion shares.
[RipplesNigeria]
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has denied reports that it is indirectly funding terrorism in the country.
A statement published by the embassy on its website debunked the report by The Times of the U.K claiming that “Beijing could be indirectly funding terror” in Nigeria.
China said the report is based on unverified, unclear, and unproven information.
“The Chinese government, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, have always encouraged and urged the Chinese companies and nationals in Nigeria to abide by the laws and regulations of Nigeria, and to implement the local rules and guidance on labor, environment, health and safety, etc, and would continue their efforts in this regard.
“The Chinese government was and would never be involved in any form of funding terrorism.
“The allegations contained in the report were totally irresponsible and unethical, and the intention of the report is seriously questioned.
“For the past decades, the bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria has brought tangible benefits to our bilateral ties and the well-being of the two peoples.
“We will continue to work with the Nigerian government to promote development and address security issues. We welcome international partners to join our efforts in good faith, but would reject any intention or action that would smear our cooperation,” the embassy said in the statement.
The report in The Times published on 15th April 2023 claimed Beijing could be indirectly funding terror in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy.
According to the report, Chinese mining bosses were funding Nigerian militant groups in order to secure access to the country’s mineral reserves.
“Chinese companies working in parts of Nigeria where attacks are frequent have been striking security deals with insurgents…, the report stated in part.
[DailyTrust]
The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has announced a 13-man Presidential Inauguration committee comprising of eminent Nigerians to plan a week-long presidential inauguration event that will usher him and his VP-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima in as the President and Vice-President of the country.
Tinubu, in a letter to the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, announced a former Senator representing Borno North and current National Deputy Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Abubakar Kyari as the Coordinator and Director of Finance and Budget of the Committee.
The Executive Director (Business Development) at the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Stella Okotete will serve as the head of Secretariat, Planning and Monitoring, while Mr Makinde Araoye, an ex-APC governorship aspirant from Ekiti State will serve as the Director of venue, parades and swearing-in for the week-long event.
The APC Presidential Campaign Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga will serve as Head of Media and Publicity, while the Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Health and current National Women Leader of the APC, Dr Betta Edu will coordinate the medical team for the inauguration committee.
A younger brother of late Nigeria’s President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Col. Abdulazeez Yar’Adua will act as the head of Security and Ceremonial parade for the inauguration with Mrs Zainab Buba Marwa, will coordinate the pre-inauguration dinner and gala night for the committee.
Other members of the committee are Samira Saddik (Children’s Day), Abuh Andrew Abuh (Accommodation), Dr. Danladi Bako (Inaugural Lecture), Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Kabir (Transportation and Logistics), Donald Wokoma (Protocol and Invitation), Bishop Adegbite (Church Service) and Imam Faud (Jumat Service).
Recall that the President-elect, Tinubu had initially forwarded the names of Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Edun to Boss Mustapha to be included as his representatives in the Transition Committee.
Tinubu is expected to be inaugurated as president on May 29, 2023.
Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, the Vice Chancellor (VC), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), says his administration inherited N1 billion on assumption of office,
Mr Okolie said this at a news conference on Thursday in Agbani campus of the institution, to mark his 365 days (one year) in office.
“A debt of over N1billion, accumulation of convocation since 2016, unpaid two months staff salaries, other arrears, poor network and other humanitarians needs were inherited,” he said.
According to him, over N1 billion was inherited on his assumption of office, out of which he had spent N124,143,696.64 in 2022 on repayment of debt.
The VC said the institution receives a total of N204,000,000 as subvention, adding that N136,000,000 comes from the state government while each Local Government Area (LGA) contributes N4 million.
“At present, some LGAs have reneged on payments by specified months and the total indebtedness arising from the non-payments amounts to N184,000,000.
“Even when the total subvention is paid in full, the management must augment to the tune of nearly N200 million to pay the monthly salaries of workers.
“It is heartwarming to note that through prudent management of the available resources, we have succeeded in reducing the institution wage bill to N40 million currently,” he said.
He said the management was doing everything possible to better the working condition of the staff and create a better learning environment for students in spite of paucity of funds.
He noted that digitisation of the institution would help to improve the welfare of students and members of staff.
“We are making efforts to digitalise our records and migrate to a new platform for handling transcripts, but this is currently at the teething period.
“MTN has almost finished laying fibre cables within and around the campus and we are hopeful that the full 4G network will be launched before the end of the month.
“This is to provide free WiFi for students in designated areas,” the VC said.
Mr Okolie was appointed VC on April 4, 2022, and assumed office on April 12.
(NAN)
Nigerian Navy has decorated 12 qualified Master Warrant Officers found worthy in duty and national service with their new ranks of Lieutenant.
The officers were promoted after being granted a presidential concessional commission by President Muhammadu Buhari. The commissioning is the second to be held by the Nigerian Navy.
In his address at the decoration ceremony, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo, urged the newly promoted officers to remain steadfast, loyal to constituted authorities and diligently focus on their assignments.
He urged them to avoid any act that could damage the image of the Nigerian Navy and the nation, saying a lot will be expected of them as officers, given their years of experience and pedigree in the Service and the contemporary security challenges facing the nation.
He said the security challenges bedeviling the nation calls for dedication, selflessness, professionalism, integrity and teamwork, which they must depict at all times.
Admiral Gambo, who congratulated the officers, noted that the promotion is in fulfilment of his resolve to encourage hard work, commitment and integrity, which portray the Nigerian Navy in good light.
“As I have always noted, “man” remains the most critical and important factor for any organisation to succeed and the Nigerian Navy under my watch will stop at nothing to ensure personnel who distinguish themselves are rewarded handsomely.”
He said, “Today, I am glad to observe that the Nigerian Navy has placed a high premium on human capacity development particularly with the introduction of several motivational incentives towards enhancing human resource output for optimal operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.
“In addition to ongoing in-country regular training for career progression and development, slots for comparative training are sourced abroad to complement local training.
“There were also several conferences, retreats and seminars including the Third Nigerian Navy Warrant Officers’ Convention geared towards maximising leadership potentials.
“Furthermore, as part of the efforts to reinvigorate aspiration, leadership and strive for excellence within the ratings cadre, the Nigerian Navy activated the concessional commission provision in the Harmonized Terms and Condition of Service – Officers 2017 (Revised).
The provisions of the Concessional Commission allow for outstanding personnel of the rank of Master Warrant Officer and above or equivalent who possess exemplary leadership qualities and have distinguished themselves through hard work, dedication and meritorious service to be commissioned as officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The Concessional Commission also serves as a motivational measure for non-commissioned officers to aspire to be elevated to the officer cadre.
“The 12 of you seated here today, distinguished yourselves and were found worthy of this recognition and elevation, I therefore congratulate you all. I also felicitate with your respective families, spouses and loved ones for the perseverance and support, which culminated into this Presidential Concessional Commissioning.
“At this juncture, may I remind you all of the Oath of Allegiance that was just administered to you. By that oath, I charge you to remain steadfast and loyal to constituted authorities and diligently focus on your assigned duties.
“You are to also avoid any act that could bring disrepute to the Nigerian Navy and by extension Nigeria in general. May I also add that a lot will be expected of you as officers, given your experience and pedigree in the Service, especially in the light of the contemporary security challenges our nation faces.
“These challenges undoubtedly call for dedication, selflessness, professionalism, integrity and teamwork, which you must depict at all times.”
[Guardian]
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA ) in Kaduna State has said the expulsion of its governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Andrew Duya, over alleged political misconduct has not changed.
The party had taken the decision at its review meeting on how itself and its candidates fared in the just concluded elections in the State.
The party claimed that its governorship candidate “romanced” a particular political party and its governorship candidate without the collective agreement of his party at the State level.
Chairman of the party in the State, Alhaji Hassan Ibrahim Rahamah who presided over the meeting alongside other excos told newsmen that, the suspension of Duya became necessary to instill discipline in its members irrespective of their political weight.
According to the Chairman, “The decision to suspend our governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Kaduna State, Dr. Andrew Duya, became necessary to enforce discipline, and also to ensure that such anti~party activities did not occur again.
“The party is working on the mandate of the people with the hope to reposition the structure of the party in the State, to make amendments where necessary, and get feedback from party flag bearers in the State.
“The party’s working committee is working hard to assure its teaming supporters that their trust is held in high esteem and thank them for believing in the party manifestos and their candidates in Kaduna state”.
The Secretary of the party in the State, Timothy Azubuike, also expressed displeasure with the action of its governorship candidate in the State.
He, however, appealed to members of the party to always consult widely in the future to avoid taking a decision that can bring down the reputation of the party.
[Sun]
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has denounced a report that its officials deployed to supervise the Adamawa State governorship rerun paid a nocturnal visit to the state’s Government House ostensibly to rig the polls for incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the denial in a statement on Thursday.
He said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a press statement by a candidate in the recently-concluded Adamawa State governorship election in which officials deployed for legitimate duty in the state were alleged to have undermined the electoral process after a discreet ‘nocturnal’ visit to the Government House and ostensibly met with one of the candidates in the election, who gave them a list of ‘collation and returning officers’ deployed for the election.
“Ordinarily, the Commission does not join issues with partisan actors, particularly where no evidence has been provided.
“To set the record straight, no such visit or meeting took place, let alone the compilation of any purported list of collation and returning officers.
“Such a meeting would have been contrary to the oath of neutrality that we all swore to.
“Moreover, every conscientious observer would have noticed that the Commission appointed and retained only one Returning Officer for the governorship election, who also doubled as the State Collation Officer for the Presidential Election (SCOPE).
“Like all returning officers nationwide, he was issued a letter of appointment by the Commission and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State was duly informed.
“The list of collation officers was also forwarded to the state with every page of the list personally endorsed by the Chairman of the Commission well ahead of the arrival of the National Commissioners.”
Okoye said the same press statement created the impression that the national headquarters of the Commission specifically targeted Adamawa State in its deployment of national commissioners and other officials with the sole intention of influencing the outcome of the supplementary election held on Saturday, April 25 and sidelining the REC.
“Nothing can be further from the truth. For the record, it has been the standard policy and practice of the Commission to deploy National Commissioners, RECs and other staff from the headquarters or neighbouring states for supplementary or off-cycle elections where doing so is considered necessary.
“In the case of Adamawa, where supplementary governorship election was held in 69 polling units, two national commissioners were deployed while for Kebbi State involving 142 polling units, three national commissioners were deployed.
“Similarly, one National Commissioner each was deployed to Sokoto, Zamfara, Imo, Rivers, Ekiti and Ogun States.
“This has been the standard practice of the Commission of which all RECs are informed in advance.
“Therefore, Adamawa State was not specifically targeted. In all other States, the RECs worked cooperatively with the national commissioners except in Adamawa State for reasons that are now obvious to all.
“The public is advised to discountenance these insinuations as nothing more than a claptrap.
“We also advise those behind the mischief to desist forthwith as such fabrications have endangered the lives of our officials (both ad hoc and regular) engaged in legitimate election duties.
“We expect well-meaning citizens to act within the bounds of propriety and decency,” Okoye stated.
More...
Following the gale of suspension of some members by different organs of the party after the outcome of the 2023 general elections, the Kwara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a seven – man investigative, peace and reconciliation committee.
The members of the committee were charged with the responsibility of restoring peace and foster unity within the rank and file of the party’s membership in the state.
The state publicity secretary of APC, Alh Tajudeen Aro announced the constitution of the committee in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday.
Aro said, “part of the crisis has seen party members seeking redress in court, coupled with the incessant flow of suspension of members in many wards and local government of the state”.
He said, the party’s leadership could no longer continue to watch the rift degenerate further.
The publicity secretary added that the committee will be chaired by Alh Alhassan Bagudu while Barr. Raphel Ashaolu will serve as secretary.
Other members of the committee are Kure AbdulGaniyu, Alh Sulaiman, Hajia Falilat Muhammed, Akinjide Ogunyemi and Alh Ore AbdulMumin.
Inaugurating the committee,the APC chairman in the state, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, charged the members to look into all matters of disputes among members in all the local government areas of the state and make unbiased recommendations in the interest of the party.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Alh Alhassan Bagudu called on all aggrieved members of the party to utilise the opportunity given by the party to present their grieviances for amicable settlement.
He assured all party members of fair hearing and unbiased judgement.
[Leadership]
Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says the presidency and the federal government has not done anything to address the the killings in the state.
For months on end, suspected armed herders and bandits have wreaked havoc in the middle belt state, killing thousands and displacing hundreds of residents, especially aborigines.
By the same token, hundreds have been killed in Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa and other parts of middle belt, with many attributing the killings to genocide and ethnic cleansing.
On Wednesday, the presidency said Ortom should be blamed for the killings, alleging that he rejected interventions from President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation.
Reacting on Thursday, Ortom blamed presidency for the perennial mindless killings in the beleaguered state.
He described the presidency’s claim of him sabotaging effort to tackle the killings as “futile attempts to twist events and history”.
In a statement signed by Nathaniel Ikyur, his chief press secretary, on Thursday, the governor said Buhari has failed woefully in securing the country, particularly Benue.
“Indeed, the Presidential spokesman’s futile attempts to twist events and history in Benue State is unfortunate and reprehensible. It shows how much he and others in that league have misled the government and Nigerian people in the last inglorious eight years,” the statement reads.
“It is equally a known fact that President Buhari has failed woefully in securing Nigeria, and Benue state in particular.
“It is on record that Governor Samuel Ortom has repeatedly pleaded with the Buhari government to intervene in the incessant invasion of Benue State by Fulani militias. The President sadly chooses to endorse the invasion and merely asks our people to learn to accommodate their neighbours who derive pleasure in killing and dispossessing them of their ancestral lands.”
Ortom described the remark by the presidency as “an insult” to the people of the state who have either been killed or abused by suspected gunmen.
“The Presidency has shown in this recent public statement that they have placed cows above human lives and made the animals to urinate on the graves of those they massacred in Benue and elsewhere across the country. If not, they wouldn’t have gone to town to mock the slain in their graves,” the statement added.
“It is an insult on Benue people including those killed and butchered children, the maimed, raped and abused women and the over two million people living under squalid conditions in Nigeria’s largest Internally Displaced Camps in the state. The Presidency’s statement is a reckless stab by agents of genocide against the Benue people by blaming the victims.”
‘FG AGAINST ME OVER ANTI-GRAZING LAW’
The governor also claimed that the Buhari-led administration has been against him since he banned open grazing in the state in 2017.
“Benue people are well aware that Governor Ortom has been a target of the Buhari presidency since 2017 when he boldly signed a law banning open grazing of livestock in the state,” he said.
“The Governor has been subjected to many coordinated media attacks, probes, freezing of state accounts and other punitive measures to frustrate and cripple his administration. While other states were given infrastructural loans, Benue under Governor Ortom was denied access to the funds.
“The same thing happened when the Benue State Government met all requirements to secure N42 billion to clear the backlog of salaries, pensions and gratuity.”
The federal government has said the refusal of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), to condemn Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mates, over the latter’s controversial comments means he supports them.
On March 22, Datti said Nigeria has no president-elect despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
The LP vice-presidential candidate said Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office, adding that the APC candidate “has not met requirements of the law”.
Speaking with state house correspondents on Wednesday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said nobody has the right to call for insurrection in the country.
He said Datti spoke on behalf of Obi and the Labour Party and Obi has not corrected him.
“I said Obi has every right to seek redress in court like Labour Party but nobody has the right to call for insurrection or to threaten to say that if the president-elect is sworn-in, that would be the end of democracy,” Lai said.
“And that was precisely what Obi’s running mate said on live television and I have not heard Obi rein him in or correct him; so, if your running mate says something; of course, he was saying on behalf of the party and on behalf of the candidate.
“That is why I said that was treason; for anybody to say that if a duly elected president in Nigeria is sworn in, that will be the end of democracy is treason. For anybody to say if you swear in a duly elected president, you are swearing the military, it is treason.
“So, I don’t see anything controversy in that.”
It’s highly imperative for the former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon(rtd) to apologise to the people of the Southeast over his role in the Biafra Civil War, Nigeria’s major opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said
The acting State Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Abia, Abraham Amah, said this in a statement, on Thursday.
He said many people still bear the scars of the 30-month long fraternal war and are haunted by its memories.
He stated that Gowon’s name troubles a lot of people in the Southeast due to his involvement in the Civil War.
Amah’s comments is coming on the heels of a statement that Gowon, alongside the state governor-elect, Alex Otti, would lead a prayer session in the state on Sunday.
The prayer session is scheduled to be held at Master’s Vessel Church in Umuahia area of state.
The statement read: “The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn to a news item in circulation on social media indicating that Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, would on Sunday April 23 lead a prayer session in one Master’s Vessel Church Umuahia, Abia State under the auspices of his pet project, Nigeria Prays, to herald a new Abia. Whatever ‘a new Abia’ means.
“The name, Yakubu Gowon is unsettling to many people in the South-East given the ignoble roles he played during the Biafran Civil War for which he is yet to render any public apology.”
Amah said the choice of Gowon as special guest in a state that is the home town of slain General Aguiyi Ironsi was insensitive.
The PDP noted that Abia state had produced a Catholic Bishop and other high-ranking clergymen.
It stressed that Gowon had yet to publicly admit his mistakes in the Civil War.
Amah stated: “The only way the prayer session would make meaning to the millions of Southeasterners, dead and alive, is for Gowon to use the opportunity of the prayer session and convert it to a moment of truth and apologise to the people for his role in the atrocious war that led to the untimely death of millions of our very resourceful people,” he added