A former National Vice Chairman North-west of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman has tackled President Bola Tinubu over the decision to remove Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate.
According to Lukman, removing Ndume was an indication that President Bola Tinubu has resolved to do one term in office.
Recall that on Wednesday, Ndume was removed as Chief Whip of the Senate and replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno following a directive contained in a letter sent to the APC Caucus in the Senate signed by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola, over alleged rabid outbursts against the president.
Lukman, in a statement issued Thursday titled, “Fanatical Mindset,” lamented that everything is being done to suspend free speech in the country, adding that it was almost as if the country were back in the Abacha era, or even worse.
The former APC chieftain said as it is, personal liberties of citizens are being threatened, fair hearing is no longer guaranteed, stressing that the country has democracy without democrats.
He said there was nowhere in APC Constitution where the National Chairman, National Secretary, or any official, or even the National Working Committee, is given the powers to summarily remove any principal officer of the National Assembly
He said it was a shame that the APC Senate Caucus would permit such an act of illegality, adding that by doing so, they have set a precedent that would further erode the independence of the National Assembly
Lukman: “The way things are, it is almost as if President Asiwaju Tinubu has resolved that he will only be a one term President. Under his watch, the living conditions of Nigerians is continuously getting worse. Instead of making effort to develop clear plans to address the situation, the government is becoming more intolerant to criticism.
“Any democracy that cannot accommodate criticism is no democracy. A democracy that subverts fair hearing is a dictatorship. A democracy that permits a ruling party to demobilise its organs and inadvertently expels its members is worse than a military government.”
“So long as APC, its leadership and Asiwaju Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027!”
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed to invalidate the nomination of Olumide Akpata as the Labour Party candidate for the September 21 gubernatorial polls in Edo State.
In a recent decision, Justice Omotosho affirmed the position taken by Akpata’s legal counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), who argued that the plaintiffs did not possess the legal standing to initiate the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was initiated by Anderson Asemota, Monday Mawah, a candidate for deputy governorship, and Lamidi Apapa, who was serving as the acting national chairman of the Labour Party at the time.
The defendants in the case were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Olumide Akpata, and the Labour Party itself.
Justice Omotosho determined that the plaintiffs had no legal right to approach the court, as they had not participated in the February 23, 2024, primary election from which Akpata was selected as the Labour Party’s candidate.
Furthermore, the judge concluded that the issue at hand pertained to the nomination of a candidate, which falls within the purview of a political party’s internal affairs.
He further asserted that it is the responsibility of the party to decide on its candidate, and as such, the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
Moreover, Justice Omotosho opined that even if the court were to exercise its jurisdiction, the merits of the case needed to be revised.
He also pointed out that, contrary to the plaintiffs’ assertions, the Court of Appeal had previously nullified orders issued by the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including an order that restrained the party’s leadership led by Julius Abure.
The judge said, “This means that the third plaintiff (Apapa) and those who were in acting capacity with him immediately had all their decisions nullified and non-existent.
“Thus, any letter written by the said acting executives, or any decisions including the purported consensus primary election which produced the 1st plaintiff (Asemota) are all non-existent, void and of no effect whatsoever.
“It is a trite principle of law that you cannot put something on nothing and expect the same to stand.
“The entire foundation upon which the plaintiff’s claim rests has been thoroughly demolished by the decision of the Court of Appeal.
“The argument that the decision of the high court of the FCT was valid as when the primary election was conducted may be true to some extent, especially if the Court of Appeal had yet to hand down its judgment.
“The judgment, however, destroys this argument and ensures that the first plaintiff, for all intents and purposes, cannot be deemed to be a candidate who emerged from a valid primary election.
“Thus the 1st plaintiff cannot claim that the ist defendant should accept his name as candidate of the 3rd defendant for the governorship elections in Edo state in 2024.”
The plaintiffs had submitted a petition to the court, requesting that it issue orders to various entities, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to officially announce Asemota as the victor of the Edo Labour Party Governorship Primary Election.
This was in light of Asemota’s position as the consensus candidate and the winner of the primary election held on February 22, which was organized by the primary election committee established by the party’s national working committee (NWC) under the leadership of Apapa.
The bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Chairmen scaled first reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 17.
The private member bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers, seeks to curb wastages occasioned by four years periodic elections.
The proposed bill seeks to alter Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Clause 2 seeks to amend Section 7 of the Principal Act by inserting a new subsection (5) immediately after the extant subsection 4 and before the extant subsection 5 as follows, “(5) A holder of the office of a Local Government Chairman shall vacate his office at expiration of a period of six years commencing from the date such holder was elected into office.”
Clause 3 of the bill seeks to amend Section 135 subsections (2), (2A) and (3) of the Principal Act by replacing the word “four” with “six” to read:
“(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the President shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date, when – (a) in the case of a person first elected as President under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office; and (b) in any other case, the person last elected to that office under this Constitution took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such Oaths.
“(2A) in the determination of the six years term, where a re-run election has taken place and the person earlier sworn wins the re-run election, the time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account.
“(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of six (6) years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.”
Clause 4 of the bill seeks to amend Section 137 of the Principal Act by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately.
Clause 5 of the proposed legislation l seeks to amend Section 180 of the Principal Act by deleting the extant subsections 2 and 3 and replacing it with new subsections 2 and 3.
It reads, “(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Governor shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of six (6) years single tenure commencing from the date when — (a) in the case of a person first elected as Governor under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office; and (b) the person last elected to that office took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such oaths.
“(3) If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of six years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.
Clause 5 of the bill seeks to amend Section 182 (1) by deleting paragraph (b) and renumbering appropriately.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe has vowed that no protest against President Bola Tinubu will hold in the Southwest part of the country.
He added that some states in the Southeast and Southsouth will also not join any protest against Tinubu.
The APC chieftain stated this while noting that President Tinubu is not a failure.
Posting on his Facebook page, Igbokwe urged Nigerians to support Tinubu because his plans would make Nigeria great.
According to him, “Believe me: This man has great plan for Nigeria. All he needs from us is our undiluted and unflinching support, trust him, encourage him, pray for him.
“Let no one expect any protest in the South West for obvious reasons: PBAT is not a failure.
“I know that some states in South South and South East may not join too. Those who want to protest should avoid Lagos for obvious reasons.”
Recall that activist, Omoyele Sowore had called for a massive protest against the Nigerian government in August over the hardship in the country.
However, as part of efforts to tackle the hardship and hunger, the Nigerian government had rolled out measures to tackle food insecurity within 150 days.
The measures, announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari included a 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for food commodities.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi has appealed to the people of the Southeast region of the country not to join in the calls for protest against the Tinubu-led administration.
The minister made this appeal on Wednesday, July 17, during the unveiling of President Bola Tinubu's legacy road projects to stakeholders and residents of the state.
Umahi emphasized that President Tinubu is taking significant measures to alleviate the country's hardships and has made difficult decisions for the nation's betterment. "The president is doing everything possible to ameliorate and end the hardship. Let us support him, he is doing everything to unite Nigeria, put food on our tables, and develop the health, education, and other sectors. Pray for him and support him," Umahi stated.
He highlighted the support from governors in the region, confirming that there would be no demonstrations against the President in Ebonyi and the southeast. Umahi pointed out that the southeast has significantly benefited from numerous ongoing road construction projects under President Tinubu's administration, addressing long-standing neglect from previous governments.
"The southeast today under President Tinubu has benefitted from numerous road construction projects ongoing to develop the southeast, which has suffered many years of neglect in previous administrations. So we need to support him," Umahi said.
The Minister also noted a marked improvement in the region's security since President Tinubu took office. "Security has been highly improved in the southeast under President Tinubu. The little security lapses being noticed now are self-inflicted and I commend the governors of the region for what they are doing in this regard," he added.
Umahi called on Nigerians to refrain from making divisive statements, stressing the need for a peaceful atmosphere to foster development. "We should stop fanning the embers of division. We are paying for the past years of neglect and mismanagement. We failed to plan properly in the past and we have to accept our past mistakes and find ways to start correcting them, and this is what the President is doing," he concluded.
The Labour Party, LP, has expressed displeasure over the removal of the lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate.
On Tuesday, July 17, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the leadership of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the removal of Ndume as a principal officer in the 10th senate.
The party also asked Ndume, who has been very critical of President Bola Tinubu, to resign and join any opposition party of his choice.
Reacting to Ndume's removal, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said the decision clearly signified that speaking truth to power is now a crime in Nigeria. According to him, the humiliation of Ndume by the senate is portraying dictatorial inclination.
“The crime of Senator Ndume was his bold expression of his concerns regarding the escalating cost of living and food scarcity in Nigeria, and his revelation that President Bola Tinubu has chosen to play the ostrich even in the face of acute starvation being witnessed in Nigeria.
The dimension this administration is taken is grave. Few months ago, Senator Abdul Ningi exposed the rot in the government where the Senate leadership and the executive collaborators allegedly padded the budget. That got him suspended and intimidated out of his lawful representative role as a senator.
It is needless talking about the economic crisis on going in Nigeria even where a few cabal are massively enriching themselves. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently said that food inflation has risen to 40.66 percent.
Even with all these glaring and scaring challenges, the government is said to have paid about N150bn for a presidential jet, building roads that have no direct bearing with the economic crises in Nigeria,” Ifoh said.
He wondered what could be called democratic about the party in government making decision for an independent legislative arm on who takes up leadership role in the nation’s legislature.
“This is clear a tyranny of a cabal against the legislative autonomy. Nigeria is gradually descending into dictatorship and we are calling on the citizens to be on an alert and put up a defence against the starvation weapon being deployed by this administration.” he said
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the regulatory body governing the practice of engineering, has said that Nigeria recorded 22 building collapses between January and July 2024.
The President of COREN, Sadiq Abubakar, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The news conference is themed, “The Incessant Spate of Building Collapse in Nigeria in Recent Times – A Call for Sustainable Collaboration by All Stakeholders.”
Mr Abubakar said that from January to 14 July, at least 22 cases of building collapse were reported in Nigeria with Lagos accounting for 27.27 per cent, Abuja and Anambra 18.18 per cent each.
He added that Ekiti and Plateau followed with 9.09 per cent each and Kano, Taraba and Niger states accounted for 4.55 per cent each.
“Records also showed that Lagos takes the lead in the incidences of building collapse.
“As a matter of fact, over 91 buildings have collapsed resulting in the death of over 354 persons in Lagos from 2012 to date.
“Similarly, in Abuja, about 30 buildings have collapsed from 1993 till date resulting in the death of more than 64 persons and injury of many.
“The most recent occurrences of building collapse close to DMGS Onitsha, Anambra State on 12 June and that of a school (Saint Academy) in Plateau on July 13 where 22 students died and 134 injured as well as the building collapse in Kubwa, Abuja.”
He said that the incidents were worrisome.
According to him, the incidents call for deep reflection and collaboration of all stakeholders in stemming the tide.
’’While we commiserate with all victims and families, we want to commend the efforts of all emergency and security services for their prompt response at the time.’’
According to Mr Abubakar, the leading causes of building collapse vary from one location to the other.
He said some buildings collapse as a result of aging, and based on investigations and research conducted over time, the use of substandard construction materials and structural failure were also responsible.
He said that other factors included illegal change of use of buildings, illegal addition of floors, quackery, and inadequate or lack of supervision and oversight.
He added that other factors included faulty foundations, a lack of soil/geotechnical investigation, and sharp and corrupt practices.
Mr Abubakar also commended the respective affected state governments for constituting a panel of inquiry to investigate the various cases, finding the immediate and remote causes, and preventing future occurrences.
’’This is not the time for apportioning blame or contest of superiority within the built environment but a time for all stakeholders to unite and proffer workable and lasting solutions, particularly in the prevention of building collapses.
’’All professionals within the built environment have a role to play in this.
’’In this regard, we have identified and categorised many stakeholders that we will be engaging shortly,’’ he said
The president said that the proliferation of illegal miners even within residential areas, as reported in some quarters, was a danger to the structural stability of buildings.
He added that the council had, therefore, urged affected states to take urgent steps to reverse the trend, adding that it was also time to enforce the compulsory insurance of some buildings under construction.
He said that COREN had taken some steps in monitoring and preventing building collapses by training and licensing Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) inspectors.
Mr Abubakar added that COREN had reconstituted its Council Committee on Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) and added an additional role of enforcement to its responsibility in line with the amended COREN Act.
He said that COREN had constituted an ERM&E Task Force at regional levels, including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, FCT, Gombe, and Lagos, among other steps to tackle building collapse.
(NAN)
Ghana’s Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred its ruling on a request to restrain parliament from transmitting a highly contested anti-LGBTQ bill to President Nana Akufo-Addo for his final approval.
The ruling means debate around the bill, which has dominated Ghana’s political discourse since parliament passed it in February, will be sidelined from the campaign for December’s presidential election race.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, chairing the five-member Supreme Court panel, said the court will expedite the case. But the case has been adjourned indefinitely, with no date set for further rulings.
Ghana’s Attorney-General Godfred Dame welcomed the court’s decision, telling the media: “I think the court is fair in coming by that approach.”
Two lawsuits are challenging the passage of the so-called “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill”, which has faced widespread international criticism for curbing human rights.
Broadcaster Richard Dela Sky is contesting the constitutionality of the bill, arguing it violates several provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
Amanda Odoi, the other plaintiff, is seeking a restraining order to prevent the parliament speaker, the attorney-general, and the clerk of parliament from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for approval.
The bill, which stipulates jail terms of six months to three years for engaging in LGBTQ sex and sentences of three to five years for promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities, has drawn condemnation from rights activists but gained wide support in the conservative West African state.
It has significant support among MPs and is backed by a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Ghanaian traditional leaders.
Ghana’s finance ministry has warned that the country, emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades and under a $3 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund, risks losing close to $3.8 billion in World Bank financing due to the bill.
[DailyTrust]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called for a political solution to the protracted crisis rocking Rivers State.
Governors on the platform of the major opposition party also renewed PDP’s bid for power shift in 2027, urging other leaders to work for its return to power at the centre.
The governors who met in Enugu, capital of Enugu State, under the aegis of the PDP Governors’ Forum, reiterated their support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is locked in a lingering feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had proposed a political solution to the Rivers logjam. But the peace deal was not totally implemented as Fubara later pointed out that the proposals were not legal.
The battle of supremacy has shifted to the court where the three-member House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, and the 27 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are making claims and counter-claims.
The Fubara/Wike rift was on the agenda of the Enugu meeting, apart from other critical national issues, the crisis in the PDP and its proposed national Congress.
At the meeting hosted by Governor Peter Mbah were Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Umo Eno Akwa-Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara States), Ahmed Fintiri (Adamawa), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Mohammed, Chairman of the forum, who read thd resolutions at the Government House, Enugu, said the governors have resolved to resolve the Rivers logjam without further rancour.
He said: “The forum notes the crisis in Rivers State PDP and commits to supporting the governor of Rivers State and also resolved that the issue be solved through political solution and other measures.
“All the leaders and organs of the party will be committed so that we can go together and resolve this issue with minimal pressure and without rancour”.
The governors expressed support for what they described as the efficacy of the local government system and the import of bringing governance closer to the people as provided in the constitution.
They vowed to support the local government autonomy as enshrined in the constitution.
The resolutions reads:”In the spirit of the founding fathers of our great party, who adopted internal democracy as fundamental principle, which our party was built, the congresses leading to the election of our leaders at the various tiers must be all inclusive, transparent and must confine with the constitution of our party.
“We must ensure the successful conduct of congresses across the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory.
“In the off season elections in Edo and Ondo, we admonish all the parties to ensure that the elections and campaigns are issue- based, violence free and in strict compliance with the Electoral Act.
“The forum urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing field, transparent, fair elections as any act of bias will be totally rejected.
“The forum urges Mr President to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining or making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.
“On the economy, the forum notes with dismay and great concern, the mismanagement of the economy by the APC led federal government.
“On minimum wage, the minimum wage negotiations are becoming unduly protracted. In view of the attendant hardship on the people, we have resolved that the labour demand on salary increase is justified and therefore commands the total support of the forum.
“While the forum fully support labour in their demand, agreement and consideration must be made in the ability to pay between the federal government, state government and third tier of government
“While negotiations are ongoing, we appeal for restrain in utterances and actions that could lead to the complete breakdown of the law and order and the collapse of the economy.
“The forum believes in the efficacy of the local government system which ensures that governance is brought to the people as provided in the constitution. The forum will continue to support the autonomy of the local government as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“The forum regrets that 16 years of growth and tremendous development of the country under the PDP led government, during which the country witnessed single digit inflation, the establishment of the existing anti-corruption institutions, and higher standard of living for every Nigerian, has been eroded during the lifespan of the lackluster APC led federal government.
“The forum identifies with the Nigerian populace in these troubling times and promises to bring back the old good days of low inflation rate, affordable food, fuel and transportation, steady FDI inflows, resulting in high naira value and create equality of human life as recorded.
“The forum commended the governors of the PDP controlled states for their innovative approaches to governance in many fields especially infrastructure, education, health, women and youth initiatives and timely delivery of developmental projects across the country.
“The forum notes the crisis in Rivers State of the party and commi8ts to supporting the governor of Rivers state and also resolved that the issue be solved through political solution and other measures. That all the leaders and organs of the party will be committed so that we can go together and resolve this issue with minimal pressure and without rancor.
“The forum called on all Nigerians to refrain from any anarchy as we march towards the return of the PDP to power in 2027”.
PDP will bounce back in 2027, say governors
The forum vowed to reclaim leadership positions occupied by other political parties in 2027.
Governor Mohammed said the Enugu meeting underscored the intention of the governors to showcase their perseverance.
He said: “Today, we are here to unify ourselves, discuss issues that affect the party and various matters within ourselves.
“Our agenda will go through governance across party administration, discuss inter-party affair, congress and other things we need to do in providing credible alternative to Nigerians.”
Mohammed said the assessment undertaken by the governors, the National Working Committee (NWC) and other party organs showed that Nigeria was drifting toward anarchy.
He said PDP would not allow the country to drift because it shared an aspiration for a better future.
Reiterating the party’s agenda for power shift, Mohammed said:“It is high time the party reclaimed its leadership position in all the states that are currently being occupied by other parties.”
[TheNation]
THE Lagos State government, yesterday, has given a three months extension for owners and developers of existing buildings without Planning Approvals in the state.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, who disclosed this in Alausa, Ikeja, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had approved the extension of the programme by another three months, starting from August 1 to October 2024, to allow more people to benefit from the programme.
How 'pregnant' passenger stole my car, made me unconscious - 43-yr-old man narrates experience
Recall that in April, the Lagos State government had announced the provision of an amnesty period of 90 days, from May 2 to July 30, 2024 to enable owners and developers of existing developments obtain Planning Permits without payment of statutory penal fees, which erecting buildings without approvals would have attracted.
Olumide said: “The Sanwo-Olu administration instituted the amnesty programme to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship on the built environment sector and equally enhance compliance to Physical Planning regulations to guarantee a livable, organised, orderly and sustainable built environment.”
[Vanguard]
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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Didi Esther Walson-Jack, as head of the civil service (HoS) of the federation.
Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement on Wednesday that Walson-Jack’s appointment will take effect on August 14.
Ngelale said Folasade Yemi-Esan, the outgoing HoS, is set to retire from the civil service on August 13.
“Mrs Walson-Jack was appointed as Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017 and has served in several ministries,” the statement reads.
“The new appointee will take over from the incumbent Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, who is due to retire on August 13, 2024.
“President Tinubu, while thanking the outgoing Head of Service for her stewardship, tasks the incoming Head of Service to discharge her duties with innovative flair, integrity, and stringent adherence to the extant rules and regulations of the Civil Service of the Federation.”
WHO IS DIDI ESTHER WALSON-JACK?
Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos. She was called to the bar in 1987.
Before joining the federal civil service, she was the solicitor-general of Bayelsa and also served as the permanent secretary of the state ministry of justice.
She was first appointed as a permanent secretary in 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. She was deployed to the office of the head of the civil service of the federation.
She had served as permanent secretary at the ministries of Niger Delta affairs, power, water resources and sanitation, and education.
In 2023, she was conferred with the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
In her early days, she attended the Federal Government Girls’ College in Benin City, Edo state, and the Federal Government College in Ilorin, Kwara state.
She is married to Nimi Walson-Jack, a former general secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
[TheCable]
Former media Aide to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad has condemned the removal of Ali Ndume as Chief Whip.
According to him, the All Progressives Congress, APC, is on the verge of implosion.
Ahmad specifically said the APC is repeating the mistakes made by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, between 2011 and 2015.
His statement comes after the Senate announced the removal of Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume representing Borno South as Chief Whip on Wednesday.
The Senate has also replaced Ndume with Senator Tahir Mungono, representing Borno North.
Recall that Ndume’s removal followed his recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He had in an interview with journalists last week stated that the President is not in the know of what is happening outside the Aso Villa.
Ndume also alleged that Tinubu was fenced off and caged.
“The government is not doing anything about the food scarcity and it needs to do something urgently. We don’t have a food reserve. There is an unavailability of food. The food crisis is the worst crisis that any nation can encounter. If we add that to a security crisis, it will be severe,” Ndume added.
However, following his removal as the Senate Chief Whip on Wednesday, Ahmad fears that his party might have taken the wrong step.
In a post on his X handle said: “I am afraid that our party, the APC, is on the verge of repeating the mistakes made by the PDP between 2011 and 2015. As a political party, we should be open to welcoming individuals, especially those who can contribute to our electoral success, rather than doing the opposite.”
Phillip Shaibu has hailed the court judgement reinstating him as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
He said it is God's doing that his prayers were answered.
We had earlier reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, nullified Shaibu’s impeachment.
Justice James Omotosho, who gave the judgment, ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the impeachment.
Reacting, Shaibu while addressing journalists at the Court’s premises, said the development was a product of prayers offered by Nigerians.
The embattled Deputy Governor dedicated his victory to God, stressing that it wouldn’t have been possible without the prayers of concerned Nigerians.
He said, “I want to thank Justice James Omotosho for his courage, he has restored the confidence that truly, the judiciary is the last hope of a common man and as a common person, justice has been done.
“Many Nigerians told me that they were praying for me. I want to tell them that God has answered our prayers. I dedicate this to God. I trust God that this judgement has reaffirmed the foundation of democracy in Nigeria”.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions, NASU has announced plan to embark on a nationwide protest on Thursday.
The protest which is expected to kick off from the Unity Fountain Abuja by 8am will see the affected staff matching to the Office of the Minister of Education, Mamman Tahir to further ventilate their grievances over the non-payment of their four months’ salary when they joined ASUU for industrial action in 2022.
Although President Bola Tinubu gave a directive that the affected staff be paid their salaries, SSANU and NASU members have yet to receive their payment several months after the directive was issued.