The Lagos State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for full compensation of owners of the 17 distressed structures demolished by the state government at Alaba International Market, located in Ojo LGA of the state.
This is as the sociocultural group also punctured claims by some traders in the market that the buildings were demolished because Igbos did not vote for the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the 2023 governorship election.
According to Ohanaeze, the demolition of the buildings had no political undertone, adding that vacation notices were given beforehand to the occupants.
However, speaking with THE WHISTLER on Monday, the President of Ohanaeze in the state, Chief Ogbonna Aguene, argued that there have not been any incident of building collapse at Alaba International Market, stressing that for that reason, the owners should be compensated.
“Those are very common people. Some of them did it ignorantly, but ignorance is not an excuse to the law. But there’re somethings you can consider people (based on the fact that Nigeria is still a third world country), so mistake can be allowed,” Aguene said.
“My appeal is that Lagos state should consider those that were affected that have CofO,” noting that owners of the buildings should be paid “full compensation.”
“They’ve added a lot to the development of Lagos State,” the president who explained that the state government is receptive to Ndigbo said.
THE WHISTLER recalls that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had on Sunday, demolished the 17 distressed structures.
On Friday, LASBCA had given final warnings and vacation notices to the occupants of the affected buildings.
According to LASBCA, vacation notices were first issued in 2016, noting that others were issued in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
“These buildings marked within this ALABA International Market would have been included in the list of 349 distressed buildings earlier published in different national newspapers this year but because the occupants were always harassing our officers, it was impossible to capture the details of the structures and include them in the publication,” the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, had said on Friday.
“What we have done now is a joint exercise carried out by both the Lagos Task Force officers and the demolition gang of Lagos State Building Control Agency. The buildings would be demolished”, he noted.
Acknowledging the impact the demolition of the distressed buildings, which were used for commercial purpose would have on commercial activities within the market, Oki had said the buildings had to go to avoid putting the lives of innocent persons at risk.
“We know that this area is a commercial centre and one of the busiest markets in Lagos State but despite this, we cannot fold our arms and allow irregularities to continue to thrive in the market where the lives of innocent persons would be put at risk because of the failure of a few set of individuals who have refused to do the needful,” he had said.
The demolition at Alaba International Market came just over a week that LASBCA removed 15 illegal attachments at Divine Homes Estate, located in Thomas Estate, Ajah, in Eti-Osa LGA of the state.
Three ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) who were Presiding Officers for the Feb. 25 general election have told the Presidential Election Petition Court ( PEPC) that only the results of the presidential election refused to upload to IREV.
The three presiding officers were subpoenaed by Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Led in evidence by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, the witnesses told the court that they were able to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine to transmit results for the senatorial and house of Representatives elections successfully.
They, however, told the court in their separate testimonies that they were unable to use the BVAS to transmit the presidential election results thereby making them unsatisfied with the entire election process.
The three witnesses, Janet Turaki, Christopher Ardo and Victoria Sani told the court that they were presiding officers in Yobe, Bauchi and Katsina states respectfully.
The witnesses all agreed that other aspects of the election went well until it was time to upload the presidential results then the BVAS machines refused to work.
Turaki, under cross examination by counsel to INEC, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN told the court that the accreditation of voters was successful and voting went on smoothly at her polling unit.
She said it was after she attempted to upload the presidential election result after capturing it with the BVAS machine that the network went awry.
The witness said that having failed to successfully upload the presidential election results, she handed over everything to her ward collation agent and filled the complaint form that INEC had provided for such purposes.
She said that she and other party agents present signed the result on the form EC8A before she took it to the ward.
For his part, Ardo told the court under cross examination by counsel to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Wole Olanipekin, SAN, that he felt unfulfilled in his assignment with INEC on the election day.
He said this was due to his inability to transmit the presidential election result as required by law.
In her own testimony, Sani under cross-examination by counsel to the All Progressives Congress,(APC), Mr Charles Edosanwan, SAN, told the court that she believed that she performed her duties as a presiding officer to the best of her ability.
The five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned proceedings until Tuesday for the continuation of the hearing in the petition.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Atiku and the PDP are before the court challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.
One of the grounds of their petition is that INEC failed to transmit election results to its (INEC Result Viewing Portal, (IREV) in real-time as the Chairman, Mr Yakubu Mahmood had said it would before the election.
…Don’t worry, EFCC won’t come after you – Wike
SENATE President, Godswill Akpabio has clarified that his N200Million goodwill to support Chief Nyesom Wike’s successful gubernatorial race in 2015 was from his personal savings and not from the treasury of Akwa Ibom state government.
Wike, immediate past Rivers state governor at Sunday’s thanksgiving in Port Harcourt to show gratitude to God for His grace to surmount critical challenges he faced over his eight years at the helms in Rivers, had revealed that the Senate President, then governor of Akwa Ibom, supported his 2015 governorship bid to that tune.
Wike narrated that, He (Akpabio) came out to support him. He was abused, that how can he put his hand in the politics of Rivers. He told them (accusers) he has seen that the only person who could win that election (Rivers guber) was me.
“He did not just come out. He gave me N200Million for that election. That is why I said one good turn deserves another. And I also supported him. Thank God he succeeded (as Senate President).”
Responding to the revelations, Senate President Akpabio explained, “That money came from my savings in the telecoms industry where I was a managing director. The money was not from the Government of Akwa Ibom state. I should make that clarification. I paid tax on that money. If you check you will know.”
Akpabio added that Wike may have forgotten or not have been aware that his mentor and predecessor, Dr Peter Odili, was first to accord him such valued financial support when he (Akpabio) was running for governor (in 2007).
He reminded Dr. Odili, “I was sitting in Akwa Ibom when you phoned me and said how can you be running for governorship and you don’t come to see me? You said come immediately. That day I came and met somebody I don’t want to mention his name now because we are no longer political friends.
“Then you pushed something into the boot of my car. And I wondered how can somebody be so kind? Because you believe in one Nigeria. You are one President Nigeria never had.”
Preempting the Senate President’s response, Wike in making his revelation had urged the former Akwa Ibom governor not to worry, said: “Just relax, EFCC will not come after you. They cannot come after you.”
The National Industrial Court on Monday declared that the order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on their planned industrial action subsists.
Justice Olufunke Anuwe stated that the order as granted on June 5 subsists pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court in addition ordered that parties maintain status quo and adjourned the matter until July 20, for hearing.
Earlier, when the case was called, the Federal Government’s counsel, Mr Ochum Emmanuel informed the court that the matter was slated for Monday for the claimant to take its motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendants from embarking on strike.
He added that he was ready to proceed with his application as the defendants had been served.
Mr Marshall Abubakar, the defendants’ counsel on his part however replied that they had filed an application praying the court to set aside its order granted on June 5, restraining his clients from embarking on strike.
Abubakar further submitted that the claimant was served the application on June 8, only for them to turn around and serve on them a counter-affidavit on Monday in court.
He added that the claimant filed the counter-affidavit on June 16 and instructed the bailiff not to serve them until on Monday in court.
The court enquired if defence was properly before the court, Abubakar responded that he was not certain, but that he will find out and do the needful.
He also prayed for a short adjournment in order to look at the counter-affidavit and respond.
Emmanuel in response opposed Abubakar’s application for adjournment and urged the court to allow him take his motion on notice which was slated for hearing.
The counsel also reiterated that the federal government will never a file process and instruct any bailiff not to serve the other party.
He argued that it was probably due to the fact that he filed the processes late on June 16 that made the bailiff to serve defence counsel in court on Monday.
Emmanuel in his submission equally averred that the defendants were not properly before the court as they had not filed their memorandum of appearance, but only came to urge the court to vacate the order it granted on June 5.
He stated that the defendants being not properly before the court cannot seek for an adjournment.
In addition, he submitted that if the court should deem it fit to grant Abubakar’s application for an adjournment, the court should equally declare that the order restraining the defendants from embarking on strike granted on June 5 subsist.
In his reply, Abubakar submitted that Emmanuel’s application was not necessary as the court had earlier stated that parties should maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
He also informed the court that parties were meeting later on Monday to try and resolve the issue.
The court in its ruling granted the application for adjournment, directed the defendants to enter their memorandum of appearance and instructed parties to maintain status quo.
From facts, he defendants had planned to embark on nationwide strike on June 7 to protest the fuel subsidy removal that brought about the new pump price for the Premium Motor Spirit.
The federal government had therefore instituted the suit to stop the defendants, stating that the proposed strike may gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large.
The claimant in addition stated that the strike is capable of disrupting economic activities,that will affect especially the health and the educational sector.
(NAN)
Chairman of Bharti Airtel Worldwide Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, on Monday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mittal said that the decision by Tinubu’s government to float the naira will now unleash foreign investments in the country.
The Airtel boss, who was accompanied by Dr Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, lauded the president, particularly for making foreign exchange easier to access.
He noted with regret that the lack of easy access to foreign exchange had prevented the company from importing critical equipment needed for its operation in the country.
According to him, the worldwide market has applauded naira devaluation and investors are now ready to come into the country.
While noting that Airtel had made just under $4 billion investment since coming into Nigeria, he affirmed that the company would roll out its 5G services and as well revealed that it would be making an additional investment of $700 million in the next two years.
Mittal stated: “We’re already investing about $400 million a year, which has been going on for the last many years. That will of course continue. That is business as usual.
“On top of that, to roll out the 5G and more fibre into the ground and data centres will require more $700 million to get to that outcome.
“So, while there is no exact number, I can give you, all I can tell you is $400 million is what we generally invest every year.
“With 5G, the investment is only going to go up for the next two or three years, before it comes back to the same $350, $450 million a year.
“We have invested just under $4 billion since the time we have come into Nigeria.”
He said that Nigeria is very key in Africa, stressing that if there is any country to be an economic power house, it’s Nigeria.
He said without Nigeria, African strategy will not work.
Mittal said he requested the meeting with the President in order to talk about Airtel and India and that he was touched by the speed and clarity of mind the President has exhibited within a short time.
“We have given a standing ovation to the floating of the dollar,” he said, adding that he saw a President that was deeply committed to removing poverty in the country.
[PRESS RELEASE] Atiku congratulates Eze Anaba, others on their election, hails NGE for successful conferences
AdminFormer Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) for a successful election of its executive officers.
The former Vice President in a press statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe on Sunday, specifically felicitates with the newly elected President of the NGE, Eze Anaba and other officials of the Guild.
Atiku noted that the theme of this year’s NGE conference titled: Post 2023 Election: Promoting Professionalism For Enhancement Of Democracy And Good Governance, is a reflection of the mandate of the NGE as gatekeepers of the media, to ensure that democracy thrives in the country.
“The theme of the National Biennial Convention was germane.
“The huge attendance, arguably the highest in the history of the conference, is an indication of the priority that the editors attach to the task of pulling Nigeria out from the brink.
“To this end, I am happy that the media in Nigeria is still a partner in progress as far as the fight for deepening democracy is concerned.
“I will urge the newly elected president and other executive members of the NGE to continue keeping focus on safeguarding democracy as a tool for rallying citizens to development,” Atiku said.
Signed:
Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 and Presidential candidate of the PDP.
Former Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has disclosed why he supported Senator Godswill Akapbio to emerge as the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.
Wike said Akpabio donated N200 million to his campaign in 2014 and 2015, stressing that one good turn deserves another.
Speaking during his special thanksgiving service organized by his family at the St. Peters Deanery, Rumuepirikom, Obio-Akpor area of the state, on Sunday.
He said Akpabio defied criticisms to back his governorship ambition in 2015.
According to Wike: “When I was running in 2014 and 2015 he came out and supported me. He gave me N200m for that election. That is why I said one good turn deserves another. I supported him this time and I thank God he won”.
Responding, Akpabio claimed that the N200 million he gave to Wike in 2015 was not from the purse of Akwa Ibom, where he was the governor then.
The Senate President claimed that the money was from his savings from the telecom sector, where he was a managing director before becoming governor.
An attempt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in its petition challenging his qualification for the February 25, 2023, presidential election was on Monday rejected by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Tinubu, through his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, had sought to use a Supreme Court judgment delivered on May 26, 2023, to terminate the APM’S petition, but the request was turned down.
The grouse of Tinubu was that the Apex Court had resolved the sole issue raised in the petition of the APM in the judgment in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He sought to move the Court to invoke the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court judgment to halt the hearing into the APM’s petition.
The Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, however, disagreed with Tinubu and held that the party cannot be shut out in the face of fair hearing.
Justice Tsammani asked Tinubu to keep his objections against the hearing of the petition to the final address stage of the court’s proceedings.
Similar objections raised by APC through its counsel, Charles Edosomwen SAN, against the petition on the same ground were turned down by PEPC for the same reason.
Earlier, the APM, through its lawyer, Mr Gideon Ijiagbonya, had informed the Court of receipt of the Supreme Court judgment being sought to be used to terminate its petition.
The lawyer said that upon perusal of the judgment by the Supreme Court, he and his legal team concluded that there is life in the petition and applied for its hearing.
He, however, sought adjournment till June 26 to enable him to obtain a vital document from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to establish his case.
Justice Tsammani, in a brief ruling, rejected a week-long adjournment and fixed Wednesday, June 21, for the hearing of the petition.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said Nigeria has not been fair to farmers in the country.
According to him, the researchers, financial institutions and government have all conspired to victimise those who are in the business of farming.
He spoke in Lagos while delivering his keynote address at the Agribusiness Investors’ Network organised by the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) in partnership with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Mastercard Foundation.
Obasanjo specifically decried the inability of farmers to access sustainable funding from financial institutions, saying the current double-digit interest rate given by banks is too prohibitive and cannot sustain any agric business.
The former President said driving agriculture to attain self-sufficiency as a nation should go beyond “tokenism”, saying the critical mass of the population must be involved.
He said there must be a deliberate effort to bring all stakeholders together to produce a new generation of farmers that would take over from the old generation, noting that most of the farmers today are too old.
He stated that the youngest farmer in his village who happens to be his cousin is 75-year old, asking, “How do we replace them?”
“We need to see agriculture as being less of talk and more of action, timely action, right actions. Whatever you are doing in agriculture requires action and attention.
“Agriculture is a serious business that requires commitment, funding, reasonable cost, right and appropriate inputs, beginning from seeds. It requires stability and predictability,” Obasanjo added.
Schools, major transport companies, traders and banks did not open for operations in Enugu and its environs on Monday despite last week’s cancellation of the order by the state government.
Sit-at-home has been observed in South-East states since 2021 following the rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, from Kenya to Nigeria. He is being detained at the custody of the Department of State Services in Abuja, and charged with running a proscribed group, jumping bail and treason. Despite court orders and UN Opinion group’s advice for Kanu’s release, former president Muhammed Buhari failed to release him.
Sit-at-home was declared by IPOB to press the release of Kanu. Despite its cancellation by the mainstream of IPOB, a splinter group of IPOB led by Finland-based immigration lawyer, Simon Ekpa, insisted that it be observed on Mondays. Mondays have also witnessed crimes in the region, forcing residents to remain indoors on Mondays.
Enugu governor Peter Mba last week hosted traditional rulers, religious leaders, traders, civil servants, security agencies, among others, where he urged them to begin business on Mondays. According to him, observing sit-at-home on Mondays was antithetical to his administration’s drive to grow the state’s gross domestic products.
A school proprietor at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, said, “We closed today because safety is priority. Once there is progress towards providing adequate security, we shall delightfully resume academic activities on Mondays.”
At the state secretariat, it was the same story as not many workers showed up for business. Ikechukwu Eze, who was seen around the premises, said, “It will take time for workers to work on Mondays. The cost of transportation is another factor. There is no money.”
A trader at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, told our correspondent that, “No business today as far as I’m concerned. I use today to play football. Let our governors seek the release of Kanu. Any other thing is treating the symptoms.”
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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 governorship election in Rivers state, Tonye Cole, said the people responsible for oil theft in the Niger Delta are not hidden.
Cole stated this while speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
According to him, oil thieves must be brought in to be part of the discussion on how to end oil bunkering.
He said, “You have to bring them in. They must be part of the discussion. They are not hidden. Some of them may have grown through the creeks, some of them you see their lifestyles change,” he said.
“You see someone whose lifestyle has changed, you see the houses have changed, you see the cars have changed, you see the money that is spent, so you know.
“This is a society where when we were growing up if you start showing money and no one knows where it’s coming from, everyone will ostracise you from the society.
“Today it has changed; nobody cares where your money comes from again. So it is not hidden, people know almost immediately within the community that this is what is going on,” Cole said.
Cole’s comment comes amid an allegation by a former Niger Delta agitator, Asari Dokubo that the military is responsible for most oil theft in the country.
He said that Dokubo’s allegation of oil theft against the military is a big issue that must be addressed.
Cole noted that the military might have been angered by Dokubo’s claim but said the military would not deny that there are some bad eggs that aid and abet illegal bunkering.
The APC chieftain noted that if the country does not address the issue of illegal bunkering, a state of emergency in the oil and gas sector might be the only solution.
Nigerians Will Experience Best of Times Under Tinubu — Akpabio
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed confidence that under the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government, Nigerians will experience the best of times.
He assured of a very serious accord between the Executive and the Legislature, as he indicated the readiness of the National Assembly to work with the presidency.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor and ex-Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry encouraged the international business community of the readiness of the 10th National Assembly to partner the executive in order to provide an enabling business environment and to make life worth living for the people.
The Senate President said this in his goodwill message at the Reception Dinner in honor of the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja on Saturday.
“I believe strongly that Nigerians are in for the best of times under this administration. Members of the National Assembly will enjoy a lot of cooperation and support from the Executive because for the first time, we are going to have a very serious accord between the Executive and the Legislature. I see good things coming for Nigerians.”
“In less than 20 days in office, the Stock Market has gone up all over the world. The world is already applauding Nigeria. I believe strongly that Senator Akume has a hand in most of the policies that are coming out and you are just starting.
You can imagine the celebrations that would come again, in the first 100 days of this administration in office. You are indeed a square peg in a square hole,” he explained.
On the celebrant, Akpabio added, “We are celebrating two things tonight; Excellence and Humility. You are a man of excellence. You leave your mark in everything you do and I have no doubt you are going to leave your mark in the present administration of President Tinubu. Your humility disarms all,” he declared.
Akpabio said the 10th Senate would work seamlessly with Senator Akume as the SGF to develop policies that will change the economic situation in the nation.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, in his message said, “Senator Akume has a proven track record in coordinating government activities and stringing government, while the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, described Akume as “a welfarist who puts the needs of others first. His appointment, he noted, “is evidence of efficient representation of the North Central in President Tinubu’s administration.”
On his part, the SGF assured that “he will do his best and he will not disappoint President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.”
Also, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his four other friends in the G5 to come up with another aggrieved group within opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to make winning the 2027 presidential election a smooth ride for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, spoke on Sunday at a thanksgiving reception held at Wike’s private residence on Ada-George Road, in his hometown, Rumueprikom in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the oil-rich South-South state.
“I want to thank you for all your efforts to bring justice to Nigeria,” Akpabio told Wike who backed the return of power to Southern Nigeria and supported APC’s candidate, Bola Tinubu against his party’s choice, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
“And I want to thank the G5 Governors,” the Senate President said whilst addressing the G5 or the Integrity Group made up of five major aggrieved politicians within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who kicked against the emergence of Abubakar in the last February 25 poll.
“We are very delighted, we are proud to have G5. Please, ensure that in 2027, another G5 emerges so that APC will continue to do well in this country. And if you like, you can add two more, make it G7 and not only G5,” Akpabio added.
Addressing Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who is also one of the G5 members, Akpabio said, “Your Excellency (Governor) Makinde, you know I predicted that you are going to be a governor when I met you with the late Alaafin, may his soul rest in peace. I just saw the way you were walking and I said, ‘This man walks like a governor.’ I wasn’t surprised when you became a governor.”
All members of the G5 including Wike, Makinde and former Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) were seated at the event.
Another member of the Integrity Group and former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose; as well as Acting PDP Chairman, Umar Damagum; former Governors Peter Odili (Rivers), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and James Ibori (Delta) were in attendance.
President Bola Tinubu was represented by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Serving Governors Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), joined the long list of Very Important Personalities at the event which was a Mecca of sorts with high-ranking APC stalwarts and members of the 10th National Assembly including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, ex-Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; ex-Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; member representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume; amongst others.
Many believed the G5 whittled the chances of Abubakar in the last presidential election as the G5 had insisted on Rotational Presidency after the eight-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military head of state from Katsina State in North-West Nigeria whose two-term tenure as democratically elected President ended on May 29, 2023.
At the PDP primary last year before the 2023 general elections, the G5 couldn’t stop Abubakar, another northerner from Adamawa State from getting the party’s golden ticket. The group thereafter demanded that Iyorchia Ayu (another northerner from Benue State) stepped down for a southern replacement as PDP national chairman but both Atiku and Ayu called the bluff of the G5.
For the presidential election, Abubakar lost in all the G5 states and while Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi won in Enugu and Abia, Tinubu raked in Oyo, Benue and Rivers.
Tinubu, 70, came out tops in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival, Abubakar.
Abubakar, 76, who has now run for president six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533.
On June 8, the G5 visited President Tinubu at Aso Villa in Abuja.
Political bigwigs and ranking senators have now shifted their attention to the election of principal officers with the election of the Senate President and deputy over.
The office of the majority leader is attracting more interest among the lawmakers.
Lawmakers reportedly eyeing the Majority Leader position include former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Osita Isunazo (Imo West), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South), Ali Ndume (Borno South) and Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central).
The Senate President and Deputy Senate President are the only positions senior to the Majority Leader in ranking in the Upper Legislative chambers.
Many political stakeholders believe the position should go South East after the zone was overlooked by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the zoning arrangement for the senate president and the deputy.
Though the party has not officially made its stance known on the election of a majority leader, Daily Sun reports that the South East caucus has held several meetings on strategies to ensure one of them is elected majority leader and are lobbying other relevant stakeholders within the party hierarchy.
A source who is part of the negotiations said that this past week, the South East caucus had held a few meetings and are united in their quest to ensure that the zone gets the majority leader position.
The source said: “We are reaching out to stakeholders to push for this. It is only fair that the position is micro-zoned to the South East to give them a sense of belonging. We are backing Kalu for the office. Umahi is not a ranking member, so it would be difficult to make a case for him. At the end of the day, it may be down to Kalu and Isunaso.
“Those making a case for Kalu are reminded that besides the fact that he is a ranking member, he was the Chief Whip in the ninth assembly and performed very well. In 2019, he dropped his ambition to contest for the deputy Senate President of the ninth Senate after the APC announced its support for Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central). He not only stepped down, citing party loyalty, he endorsed Omo-Agege, saying that he would always abide by the decision of the party. He was later to emerge the Chief Whip. This shows that he is a loyal party man.”
10th Assembly: Details Of How Yari Allegedly Spent Billions Of Naira On Senate Presidency Bid emerged
AdminDetails of how former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’Azeez Yari allegedly spent billions of naira to contest for the seat of the Senate President for the 10th National Assembly have emerged.
Naija News reports that Yari contested for the seat of the Senate President against the consensus candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Godswill Akpabio, who eventually emerged as the Senate President.
The former Zamfara State governor had secured 46 votes, while Akpabio got 63 votes to emerge the winner for the seat.
However, Yari after all is said and done has alleged that he was betrayed by some of the lawmakers because he allegedly had 76 senators on his side.
He said “I can say there was a betrayal because as we were taking stock at 3:00 am on Tuesday before the election, we took stock of over 76 people.
“We took into cognizance that there could be a fall-out of about 15 and we had agreed that if that happens, we would comfortably still have about 61 people. What we got was the reverse and yes, I felt betrayed over that outcome.”
However, confirming this development, a former lawmaker told SaharaReporters at the weekend that Yari had lobbied the leadership of opposition political parties with a lot of money running into billions of naira.
The lawmaker whose name was withheld said was betrayed by the “leadership of some opposition parties.”
The former lawmaker revealed that “In saner climes, everything should not end with Yari’s loss in the red hallowed chamber on June 13, 2023. a postmortem of how Yari accumulated the humongous amount of money he used to cause division along regional and religious lines earning him the title of ‘rebel leader’ to borrow from Senator Shehu Sani’s succinct description of his posture is urgent and necessary. Even Akpabio should be investigated so it won’t be a one-way issue.
“Yari started the contest for Senate President immediately after the declaration of his victory as Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District in February 2023. He particularly instrumentalised the Lesser Hajj of the last Ramadan (mid-April 2023) to meet and induce Muslim Senators-elect with mouth-watering bunches of dollars in Saudi Arabia.”
Another source disclosed that “In Abuja, Yari booked floors of rooms at the Transcorp Hilton and Continental hotels for the Senators-elect through May and June 2023 escalating the cost of booking in the two hotels to a record high. It was widely speculated that Yari bribed new Senators with houses in the Karsana area of Abuja and was prepared to buy the votes of 60 Senators at 1 million dollars each.
“To conclude, now that the game is over, Yari’s action against consensus should be treated with a strategic outlook to avoid the threat it poses to national stability in the future. Investigating the source of Yari’s stupendous wealth that he deploys to disrupt decency in political engagement is apt and timely.
“A good starting point is retrieving his many open files since 2007 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and thoroughly screening his asset declaration form vis-a-vis his legitimate ventures.”