“True leaders do not make choices with reference to the opinion of the majority. They make choices based on the opinion of the truth, and the truth can come from either the majority or the minority!” —Israelmore Ayivor
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is under intense political fire.
At the moment Kwankwaso, not immune to the complexities of Nigerian politics is caught in the web of a political battle of survival.
And in a country like Nigeria where political fortunes can be fickle and power fleeting, Kwankwaso is not leaving anything to chance, and fully conscious that how he handles the present crisis will either further his political influence or diminish his already established political stature.
What is clear is that the Boniface Aniebonam and Gilbert Major group, which controls NNPP Board of Trustees, is bent on reducing him to an ordinary political denominator if they can.
They want to demystify the spirit behind the Kwankwansia Movement.
They have tried the suspension weapon before playing the expulsion card, but Kwankwaso seems to be smart too as he wasted no time in rushing to the court to stop the thick plot, and then seek for justice.
He appears to be winning as a high court in Kano State last Tuesday set aside his suspension from the party, NNPP.
Ruling on an ex parte motion in a suit marked K/M1157/2023, the presiding Judge, Usman Na‘Abba, also restrained members of the Boniface faction that suspended Kwankwaso from acting as national officers of the party.
Recall that last Tuesday, the NNPP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Aniebonam, founder of the party, suspended Kwankwaso over allegations of anti-party activities.
However, a faction of the party loyal to Kwankwaso reversed the suspension.
The party’s National Executive Council (NEC) had also set up a disciplinary committee to probe allegations of anti-party activities and mismanagement of party funds levelled against him.
Kwankwaso was directed to appear before the committee within five days of getting the invitation.
The NEC had warned that Kwankwaso would be expelled in line with the provisions of the NNPP’s constitution if he failed to appear before the disciplinary committee.
In a statement on Tuesday, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, NNPP’s acting national publicity secretary, said that NEC resolved to expel him because of his refusal to honour the committee’s invitation.
But in the latest ruling, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the purported suspension pending the determination of the suit.
The judge adjourned the suit to October 5.
The judge ruled that “an order of interim injunction is hereby granted, restraining the respondents by themselves, their agents, cronies and whosoever acting or act through them from parading themselves, issuing press releases or granting interviews as national officers, leaders or members of the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted setting aside the purported suspension of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a member of the applicant and restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the purported suspension pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
As things stand now the Aniebonam and Major group has vowed to kick out Kwankwaso, insisting that nothing would stop them.
They claimed among other things that “material evidence” in public affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in “anti-party activities in various meetings” and political discussions with President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC); his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; and Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi.
The truth is that through the formidable Kwankwasia Movement, Kwankwaso was able to galvanize massive support across diverse socio-political groups just in less than a year after joining the NNPP, flying its presidential flag during the last general election with high electoral value within the short period of time and emerging in the fourth position.
Kwankwaso left a credible record as governor of Kano State. His commitment to education which is key to any development agenda stood him out as then governor of Kano State as he set an enviable record for the promotion of education and literacy, as well as other legacy projects, being the first governor to establish two universities, including a university of science and technology in Kano.
Kwankwaso is widely reported to have sponsored hundreds of young men and women abroad for professional degree courses as part of his commitment to education as a tool for lifting the people out of poverty.
Most commentators seem to be wondering about what will be left of the party if Kwankwaso, who is seen as the soul of the party, is forced out.
Political commentators believe that there is need for wider consultations, as it is in the best interest of the party to seek for genuine reconciliation, realising that Kwankwaso is a huge asset given his followership.
But whether the gang up against him can swallow him or not will be revealed in the months ahead.
Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was born on October 21, 1956, in Kwankwaso village located in Madobi LGA of Kano State.
He was a former governor of Kano State and was at a time the senator that represented the Kano Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Revd Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, has lambasted Nigerian governors for embarking on a retreat to Rwanda.
The Founder, The Kukah Centre, expressed his displeasure in Abuja over the retreat held at the instance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during an event tagged ‘Validation Session: Needs Assessment of Political Parties in Nigeria’ organised by the Kukah Centre and funded by the European Union (EU).
The three-day executive leadership retreat of Nigerian governors in Kigali, Rwanda, was organised in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. Nineteen participants drawn from 19 states of the federation reportedly attended the programme, held between August 24 and 26, 2023.
But Kukah said it was a bit agonising that newly elected governors would make a trip to Rwanda just to go and think about what they are going to do.
According to Kukah, “If you are familiar with all these political movements, is that people travel from here to America and to everywhere.
“Sometimes, if 50 people travel abroad, 30 or 40 people never attend even the processes. They get the estacode, but they don’t participate in the processes.”
Kukah further said Nigerians should not be talking about going to learn democracy from Rwanda.
“And of course, if you are obsessed with Rwanda, it is wonderful. But please, let’s not forget, Rwanda’s politics is not the same as Nigerian politics.
“I hear Nigerian women, they keep saying we want to be like Rwanda. Well, you want to be like Rwanda with the huge women population in government, you’ve got to kill your husbands because had the men not been killed during the genocide, women would not have had the opportunity they now have in Rwandan politics.
“So, it is not an act of some benevolent democrats who have realised that women have a place. So, it is an act of desperation.” Kukah however said he was in support of the initiative of the Nigerian women, saying “there should be more than 30 percent.
“We just want to enter this process, we want to get 30 or 40 percent of the corruption. There is no need wanting a seat at the table if you are not going to be able to effect change,” Kukah said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has lamented that mass poverty, hardship and hunger have continued to ravage Nigerians, urging the Federal Government to put in more efforts at addressing the challenges.
The group said life was becoming a living hell as prices of food, transportation and other essential commodities have gone up beyond the reach of the poor masses
It noted that terrorism and other forms of insecurity have remained unabated, saying that it was not yet Uhuru in Northern Nigeria as far as operations of criminal elements was concerned in the region.
The Northern CAN called on all security agencies in the country to up their games to ensure that the terrorists are eliminated from the region and the country in general.
This was contained in a communiqué issued and signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO)of Northern CAN, Chaplain Gilbert Jechonia.
The communiqué said the meeting, presided over by the chairman of the association, Rev. Yakubu Pam, was attended by leaders of the association in the 19 Northern States and FCT. The communiqué read in parts: “There is mass poverty and hunger in the land. Many Nigerians are barely struggling to make ends meet. Many businesses have collapsed as a result of the harsh economic situation in the country. Unemployment has pushed many young people into crime.
“The meeting commended security agencies for fighting insurgency and banditry which has contributed to the destruction of our economy.
“However, it is not yet uhuru as the bandits continue to terrorise communities, especially in the north. Almost on a daily basis, these criminals attack communities, killing and abducting people. Many people cannot go to their farms for fear of being abducted or killed.
“We call on the federal government not to relent in empowering and supporting security agencies to crush the criminals. The meeting called on President Bola Tinubu and governors of the 36 states of the federation to live up to the expectations of Nigerians, by ensuring that the economic and social problems bedeviling the country are addressed.
“The President and governors must run an all inclusive government and ensure that development projects are distributed fairly to give every section of the country or state a sense of belonging.
“The meeting called on President Bola Tinubu to do everything humanly possible to address the issue of food crisis in the land. Nigerians are suffering as a result of the removal of petrol subsidy. Life is becoming a living hell as prices of food, transportation and other essential commodities have gone up beyond the reach of the poor masses. The prices are on the increase on a daily basis. The free fall of the naira to the dollar and other foreign currency is a threat that the government must address for the good of our economy. The meeting also commended the government for taking steps to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy by way of providing palliatives.”a
…Says some governors risk being removed
The two leading opposition candidates at the last Presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) have been admonished to reconsider their plan to seek redress at the Supreme Court following last week’s judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, gave the advice while restating his earlier prediction over the contested outcome of the February Presidential Election.
The popular man of God had in July prophesied that only God could remove Tinubu when he said the spiritual implication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s election mantra, Emi l’okan, covered the election petitions against him and declared that ‘only God can stop Tinubu from completing his tenure as President.”
Primate Ayodele said the spirit behind Tinubu’s Emi lokan’s mantra was far too powerful beyond what could be imagined by anyone, insisting that, “only God can remove Tinubu because of the power behind ‘Emilokan’. Ten million judges cannot remove him. Obi and Atiku should go and rest.
“Atiku and Obi missed it right from the time before the election. The right way to go is to seek God’s face first before stepping into any political race. “Emilokan has gone far. Is going to the Supreme Court an answer? Definitely no. They cannot get anything from the apex court. Who is going to interpret the law when the power behind Emilokan has arrested everyone that has anything to do with the election?”
“People are not seeing the power behind Emilokan mantra. When Tinubu uttered Emilokan was there any enchantment to counter that pronouncement? At this stage, ten million pastors cannot help Obi neither can ten milion Imams help Atiku. It is only God that can arrest the spirit behind Emilokan. Tinubu is God’s plan not God’s purpose. Going to the Supreme Court is a waste of money. Obi and Atiku should use the money they intend to spend to pursue their cases at the apex court to support the suffering Nigerian masses.” Primate Ayodele foretold.
Speaking on other pending petitions at various election tribunals, the foremost seer said, “We are still going to witness more drama at the tribunals. Tribunals will still unseat more Senators. More House of Representatives members will still go. In fact, some governors are at risk of losing out at the tribunals. Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral system is waning. After the Supreme Court’s judgment, the confidence level will depreciate further because the power behind Emilokan will cover whatever loophole is in the last election. It is not Tinubu that is at work, it is the spirit behind Emilokan that is at work and it has already defeated Obi and Atiku.” Primate Ayodele said.
nsecurity: We’re not kidnappers, criminals terrorizing S’East, S’South Nigeria – Miyetti Allah
AdminSays territorial expansion allegation is false
Urges governors in region to protect herders and their cattle
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in the Southeast and South-south zones has opposed the profiling of its members as criminals and kidnappers operating in the southern region.
The group emphasized that their presence in the South is solely for the purpose of cattle breeding and not for any territorial expansion as erroneously believed by some individuals.
While acknowledging that no group is entirely free of individuals with questionable character, MACBAN asserted that they have been actively working to rid themselves of such elements.
This declaration was made during a joint executive council meeting held in Enugu yesterday.
The event was attended by MACBAN’s national executive members, zonal chairmen, Fulani traditional rulers, and state chairmen, from both zones.
MACBAN’s National Vice Director, Alhaji Gidado Sidiki, who addressed the media after the meeting said that the persistent reports of friction and insecurity experienced by their members in the various localities across the Southeast and South-south regions necessitated the meeting.
“Our members are getting increasingly uncomfortable with the growing suspicion with which they are treated by a good number of people in the Southeast and South-south.
“The leaderships of MACBAN in the two zones are worried about the demonization of herdsmen and the manner of their often being tagged and treated as criminals. This suspicion is rooted upon the speculations that herdsmen are harbingers of Fulani territorial expansionism.
“The convoking of the meeting does not presuppose an unusual provocation of the conflicts that our people experience with their native landlords.
“The leadership of MACBAN in the Southeast and South-south has continued to dialogue appreciably well with the individual state government in the zones. The dialogues give hope for better understanding between our members and their host communities.
“The meeting rigorously deliberated on the daunting challenges our members encountered in the course of their business of cattle rearing in the Southeast and South-south. It, however, recognized that such problems are not limited to the zones.
“The meeting recognized the need to correct the faulty impression that our members’ interests in the Southeast are beyond economic pursuits. The meeting acknowledged the government as the chief custodian of lives and property across the country.
“It, therefore, encourages and charges the government to live up to its mandate of providing security to its citizens across the country. Let it be noted that the leadership of MACBAN will not hesitate to report any herdsman suspected to be criminally inclined to the police.
“We jointly resolved to fully lend our efforts towards fostering an enduring harmonious relationship between our people and their host communities, as it is only in a peaceful environment that our business will thrive.
“The meeting was hopeful that the governments of Southeast and South-south states will ensure greater protection of our members and our cattle. It equally expressed great hope that the governments of the zones will speak in one voice in this regard,” Sidiki said.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said his decision to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has yielded fruits.
Umahi defected to the ruling party in 2020, after winning his second term election as governor under the platform of the PDP, citing the injustice meted out to the South-East by the PDP.
After the completion of his second term as governor, Umahi won the Ebonyi Central senatorial election but was subsequently appointed as minister of works by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi, during his visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru, as part of his tour of the state to inspect federal roads, said joining APC almost took his life, but it finally paid off.
He said, “That decision (to join APC) nearly took my life, my properties were burnt and I became the enemy of the entire Igbos.
“The decision fetched all of us our present position. So, support the governor to deepen the party in the state and southeast zone,” he said.
“I urge the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and other Igbo stakeholders, to support Tinubu.
“The president gave us the foremost ministerial position even when we didn’t vote well for him,” he said.
Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in decades has killed over 1,000 people, authorities said Saturday, causing widespread damage and sending terrified residents and tourists scrambling to safety in the middle of the night.
The 6.8-magnitude quake struck a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 11:11 pm (2211 GMT) Friday, the US Geological Survey reported.
Strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.
“I was nearly asleep when I heard the doors and the shutters banging,” said Ghannou Najem, a Casablanca resident in her 80s who was visiting Marrakesh when the quake hit.
“I went outside in a panic. I thought I was going to die alone.”
It is the strongest-ever quake to hit the North African kingdom, and one expert described it as the region’s “biggest in more than 120 years”.
“Where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough… so many collapse, resulting in high casualties,” said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at Britain’s University College London.
Updated interior ministry figures on Saturday showed the quake killed at least 1,037 people, the vast majority in Al-Haouz, the epicentre, and Taroudant provinces.
Another 1,204 people were injured, including 721 in a critical condition, the ministry said.
The ministry also recorded deaths in Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Azilal and Youssoufia provinces, as well as in Marrakesh, Agadir and the Casablanca area.
– ‘Unbearable’ screams –
Faisal Badour, an engineer, said he felt the quake three times in his building in Marrakesh.
“There are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake,” he said. “The screaming and crying was unbearable.”
In Moulay Brahim village, in the mountains of Al-Haouz province near the quake’s epicentre, rescuers were searching for survivors in the rubble of collapsed houses, AFP correspondents reported.
On a nearby hill, residents began digging graves for the victims, the correspondents said.
Frenchman Michael Bizet, 43, who owns three traditional riad houses in Marrakesh’s old town, told AFP that he was in bed when the quake struck.
“I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was total chaos, a real catastrophe, madness,” he said.
Footage on social media showed part of a minaret collapsed on Jemaa el-Fna square in the historic city.
An AFP correspondent saw hundreds of people flocking to the square to spend the night for fear of aftershocks, some with blankets while others slept on the ground.
Mimi Theobold, 25, a tourist from England, said she was with friends on a restaurant terrace when the tables began shaking and plates went flying.
Houda Outassaf, a local resident, said she was “still in shock” after feeling the earth shake beneath her feet — and losing relatives.
“I have at least 10 members of my family who died… I can hardly believe it, as I was with them no more than two days ago,” she said.
The interior ministry said authorities have “mobilised all the necessary resources to intervene and help the affected areas”.
The regional blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh called on residents to donate blood for those injured.
The army has set up a field hospital in Moulay Brahim and deployed “significant human and logistical resources” to support search and rescue efforts in Al-Haouz, state news agency MAP said.
– Significant damage likely –
“We heard screams at the time of the tremor,” a resident of Essaouira, 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Marrakesh, told AFP. “Pieces of facades have fallen.”
The USGS PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, issued a “red alert” for economic losses, saying extensive damage is probable.
Foreign leaders expressed their condolences and many offered assistance, including Israel with which Morocco normalised relations in 2020.
US President Joe Biden said in a statement he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation”.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed “deep grief for the victims” and hope that “the Moroccan government and people will be able to overcome the impact of this disaster”, according to Beijing’s state media.
Pope Francis expressed “his profound solidarity with those who are touched in the flesh and heart by this tragedy”.
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Algeria, where the Algerian Civil Defence said it had not caused any damage or casualties.
In 2004, at least 628 people were killed and 926 injured when a quake hit Al Hoceima in northeastern Morocco, and in 1960 a magnitude 6.7 quake in Agadir killed more than 12,000.
The 7.3-magnitude El Asnam earthquake in Algeria killed 2,500 people and left at least 300,000 homeless in 1980.
Press Statement on The Relocation From The Old International Terminal To The New International Terminal Of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos
AdminThe Honourable Minister, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb(UK), concerned about the teething problems of relocating the international airlines to the new Terminal which was necessitated by the recent fire outbreak at the Old International Terminal in Lagos, has set up a task force to resolve these challenges within the shortest possible period. The members of the task force are:
I. Engineer Hassan Musa, (Retired PS and ex-Dir of Dept. of Air Transport Management (Team Leader)
II. Adebayo Oladipo General Manager Aerodrome NCAA
III. Mr. Collins Mukoro (SA to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development)
IV. Mrs. Uyoyou Edhekpo (SA to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development)
V. Mr. Henry Agbebire (SA to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development).
2. Recall that during the Honourable Minister’s inspection of the Lagos Airport on Thursday 31st August 2023, he had given a deadline of October, 1 2023 for the relocation. However, the management of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had to fast track the implementation of this directive in response to the recent fire outbreak which raised safety concerns and affected passengers’ movements.
3. We urge all passengers and other stakeholders to be patient and bear with us as the inconvenience caused will soon be resolved. Your understanding plays a vital role in making this transition smoother for everyone involved.
4. The primary objective of this task force is threefold:
I. Resolve Passenger Concerns: The task force will work diligently towards resolving all concerns raised by passengers regarding congestion, discomfort, and related issues stemming from terminal relocation. We are committed to ensuring that every passenger's voice is heard and addressed promptly.
II. Minimize Discomfort: Our focus dwells on minimizing any form of discomfort during this transition period. Efforts will be made in streamlining processes at both terminals while closely monitoring operations 24/7. Measures such as enhanced signage, dedicated support staff, improved communication channels will be implemented proactively.
III. Effective Public Communication: We pledge transparency throughout this process by providing regular updates on progress made in addressing concerns arising from airline relocations. FAAN aims at improving public relations strategies through various channels including online platforms and customer service helplines so that you stay informed about developments firsthand.
5. In conclusion, the Honourable Minister extends its deepest regrets once again over the inconvenience caused and assures all travelers that we are fully committed to resolving these concerns promptly. We pledge our commitment to passenger comfort, safety, and overall satisfaction during this transitional period.
6. Thank you for your understanding and continued support
Oluseyi Odutayo
Head Press and Public Affairs
Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development
The crisis rocking the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party has taken a new twist following a move by the faction of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to amend the party’s constitution and logo.
The decision to amend the constitution was confirmed during an exclusive interview with the National Auditor of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson.
The development is coming three days after the faction of the party under the leadership of Major Agbo expelled the presidential candidate of NNPP for alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of party campaign funds.
Kwankwaso’s expulsion was announced in a statement released on Tuesday by the NNPP’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq.
Abdulrasaq affirmed that the decision to expel Kwankwaso with immediate effect was taken after he failed to appear before the disciplinary panel to defend himself over the allegations levelled against him.
The expulsion of the former Kano governor caused disaffection within the party and saw chieftains from opposition camps trading blame.
A few days after the drama, Saturday PUNCH findings revealed that there was a subtle move by the Kwankwaso camp to amend the logo and constitution allegedly to weaken the grip of the NNPP founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
Although the development was confirmed by Johnson who was the chairman of the disciplinary committee that expelled some factional members of the party a few weeks ago, the national auditor, however, denied the move was a response to the emergence of a faction within the NNPP.
“No, it has nothing to do with any faction. It was something we already discussed at the NEC. Unlike them (Agbo faction), we are serious people. But we haven’t changed the logo yet. We are planning to throw it out there for our members to compete and come up with ideas,” he said.
Reacting, acting National Chairman of the faction, Major Agbo, told our correspondent that they were aware of the subtle move which they believed was directed at removing the immunity of the founder.
He said, “Obviously, the proposed amendment to the constitution and changing of logo they are talking about was deliberate. That was because they discovered suddenly that the man they are after (the founder) has immunity by the provision of that constitution. That’s why they are in a hurry to amend it.”
Former media aide to the immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande has clarified that his recent comments are personal and not on behalf of his former boss.
Taking to his account on X (formerly known as Twitter), Akande said it is important for members of the public to know the views being expressed after May 29, 2023 are his personal views.
Naija News understands the journalist said this on Saturday after reactions that greeted his views on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election petition tribunal.
The former media aide to Osinbajo had faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), affirming the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as winner of the 2023 election.
While answering questions on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Friday, Akande said the failure of INEC to electronically transmit the results of the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections has broken the trust of Nigerians.
According to him, INEC failed to upload polling unit results on its Result Viewing Portal despite the promise made to Nigerians at home and abroad.
Reacting to the backlashes that followed his views, Akande clarified that his comments were his personal views and not those of Prof. Osinbajo.
He wrote: “I am aware some people think my comments since after May 29 were on behalf of my former boss, VP Osinbajo who I worked with 2015-2023 as media aide. It is now important to say I now ONLY speak for myself & those views I have shared & will share going forward are ENTIRELY mine.”
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has successfully advocated for Nigerians to be incorporated into India’s e-visa program, simplifying the visa application process for Nigerians.
Mr. Tuggar, who accompanied President Bola Tinubu to the G20 summit in India, revealed this information via his X account on Friday evening.
The foreign affairs minister explained that his discussions with the Indian Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, resulted in a positive outcome, granting Nigerians the convenience of applying for an Indian visa online. This move aims to streamline and reduce the bureaucratic hurdles in the visa application process for Nigerians.
“I discussed with the Indian External Affairs Minister, the need for an easier visa process for Nigerians visiting India, and he explained they currently don’t issue visas on arrival but will extend their online e-Visa application to Nigerians,” the foreign affairs minister posted on his X account Friday.
The G-20 summit is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 10 at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition-Convention Centre, situated in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India.
Nigerian leader, Mr. Tinubu, was invited to participate in the summit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prominent international figures such as U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian President Justin Trudeau, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan have all arrived in India for the summit.
Nigerians have called for a restructuring of the Judiciary, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after scrutinizing the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, delivered on Wednesday. Elder statesmen, leaders, retired judges, lawyers, and activists, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, this weekend, faulted the judgment, saying that the operators, not necessarily our laws, were the problem of democracy in the country.
They expressed dissatisfaction that the PEPT did not dispense justice on the glaring issues that arose from the last presidential elections tabled before it for determination.
Restructure Nigeria — Emiaso, ex-customary court president
A former President of the Delta State Area Customary Court, Miakpo Emiaso, said: “I have always taken the position that there is nothing wrong with our laws apart from the lopsided federal system that this country operates. Unless there is restructuring of the political system such that each part of the nation is sufficiently autonomous to pursue its own goals according to its needs, this country is going nowhere.
There is a fundamental flaw in the organization of this country, and unless we remove the flaw by restructuring to something similar to what we had in the First Republic, this country is going nowhere. In terms of the electoral system, the problem we need to solve is the people who operate the system. The politicians and electoral umpire must change their attitude and they cannot change their attitude because what propels them is the faulty federal system that we are operating in Nigeria. We have established it without argument that we cannot function together the way we are trying to force ourselves together. I am not advocating the dismemberment of Nigeria; Nigeria must remain Nigeria, but we must give the federating units greater autonomy. There is too much power concentrated at the federal and there is too much power concentrated on the person who becomes President. This country will not move like this.
There is no problem with our electoral system; it is the dramatis personae that we need to talk to, to change their ways because the faulty federal system that we operate foists that attitude on them.
INEC breached electoral laws — Nwoko, SAN
Former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Uwem Edimo Nwoko, said, “My position built on my experience, over the years, both as a lawyer and participant in the electoral process would be that human beings are the architects of the unfortunate democratic experience we are having.
Why do I say so? The laws we have today, particularly the Electoral Act 2022, can engineer a perfect electoral process, but the problems lie with those executing and implementing the law. For example, globally, the management of the 2023 General Elections, particularly the presidential election, was highly flawed. If you read through the reports of all the observers, both local and international, you see that every observer with integrity and dispassionate evaluation came up with the conclusion that INEC did not follow the Electoral Act, especially in the deployment and use of the BVAS machines.
They did not follow the provision concerning real-time transmission of results from the Polling Unit to the INEC server. People complained that the INEC server suddenly shut down during the presidential election. The irony is that the same machines that transmitted the National Assembly results could not transmit the presidential results at the same time. The INEC Chairman was announcing the results of the Presidential election when collation was still going on. Since he said the machines did not transmit the results, how did he get the figures he was declaring? Until today, INEC has not explained to Nigerians why that happened.
Unless we get people of integrity to supervise our electoral process, we will make no progress, so the problem is not with our laws.”
Reform judiciary — Onuesoke, ex- guber aspirant
Former Delta State governorship aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, said: “The electoral laws are very okay. The major problem we have is the judiciary. What happened on Wednesday was a rape of Nigeria voters’ rights. Nothing is wrong with the Electoral Act.
The judiciary is responsible, for example, there is a constitutional clause that you need to have 25 percent of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. It is in the laws but they just came out and started reading if Abuja people are better than the people in other states That contradicts the law. We should blame the judiciary, not INEC. The way forward is to reorganize the judiciary.”
Unfashionable to ignore BVAS, IREV – Okah, lawyer
A legal practitioner in Bayelsa State, Jonah Okah, asserted, “The judgment on the presidential election has exposed certain salient issues in the Electoral Act. The much-celebrated reform provided in the 2022 Electoral Act has teeth, but cannot bite in the face of the judgment that the Tribunal delivered.
“We need to make specific provisions to address the issues of electronic transfer of results, the legal validity of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and IReV, INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, as well as curtailing the latitude conferred on the electoral empire, as highlighted by the issues arising from the judgment. It is anachronistic in this Information and Communication Technology, ICT, age when electronic transmission cannot be used as a legal process in the conduct of election as stated in the judgment.”
We‘re diminishing — Evison, Community leader
National President of the Sagbama Federated Community, Ebi Evinson, said: “From the judgment, we seem to retrogress our electoral system. Introducing BVAS and the electronic transmission of results was a remarkable improvement in our elections. But now that the judgment says that collation and electronic transmission of results by INEC is optional, then the gains we made on our electoral system would have eroded and future elections shall be terrible in terms of credibility.
“We will slide back to our old ways of manual collation with its attendant challenges. I think that the only way we can make progress in our elections and democracy is to ensure that we conclude election cases before swearing in so that there will be minimal influence. The confidence with which President Bola Tinubu jetted out of the country, on the eve of his crucial election case that was due for judgment, when the conference still had a few days ahead to begin, simply shows the effective application of the Nigerian factor in the entire scenario.”
Hope lost – Clarkson, attorney
A legal practitioner and former spokesperson of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnicity Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Amaebi Clarkson, said: “We are in the ICT age, and expectantly, our electoral process would have been driven by technology, particularly with the introduction of card reader and BVAS. Unfortunately, the 2023 general election has clearly shown that we are not ripe for digitalized elections possibly because of our value placement as a people.
“I am of the firm opinion that we go back to our indigenous Option A4 introduced by Prof Nwosu in the conduct of our elections.”
We need a fearless judiciary, competent INEC – Odi, community leader
A retired Bayelsa senior civil servant and community leader, Chris Odi, suggested, “Strengthening INEC to be able to fund its operations, and equip workforce to function optimally with near-perfect logistics to deliver credible elections, and working with a fair and fearless judiciary to prosecute culprits of electoral offenses. Also, the electoral umpire must work hard to ensure there are no cases of voter suppression (disenfranchisement). The government must adequately equip the police to check electoral violence before, during, and after elections.
“There should be proper orientation and reorientation by the relevant government agency (NOA), and media outlets on the need to shun ethnic and religious politics for Nigeria to have the benefit of the best candidates. They should revisit the problem of voter apathy through voter education. For instance, the 2019 election recorded 34.75 percent voter turnout, while in 2019, only a meager 28.6 million voters cast their votes out of 82 million eligible voters. The above suggestions will go a long way in improving Nigeria’s electoral system.”
Electronic voting, solution to Nigeria’selectoral turbulence — Chima Nnaji
On his part, Lagos-based legal practitioner and Rights activist, Chief Chima Nnaji, strongly advocated the evolution of electronic voting as a permanent solution to Nigeria’s hydra-headed electoral system.
He regretted that those who benefit from the current flawed system are reluctant to embrace innovations that could help eliminate fraud in the system. According to him, “Electronic voting is the way to go but the drag by those in power is causing the delay. See how the last ditch effort in the 2022 Electoral Act was messed up at the tribunal on Wednesday. It was consigned to the waste bin, and it looks as if they dumped all the money budgeted for those gadgets in the lagoon. So, the first is to show sincerity of purpose by leadership that must look beyond today. They must look beyond their narrow interest and be statemanly in their perception of realities such that even if they are being selfish, such selfish interest should as far as possible, be situated within the national interest. And the only way to do that is to commit to electronic voting system that will de-personalise human interventions in such a drastic manner that it is done at the whims and caprice of whoever is the National Chairman of INEC. It should be made in a way that it becomes absolutely difficult to game the system. There might be glitches which have to be battled and upgraded as in the banks. Although the electronic system has not prevented fraud, it has reduced it to the barest minimum.
“We need something that is de-personalised, we de- personalise to improve effectiveness. The process has been dragging because of human interest. If you eliminate human interest, the court will be removed from the electoral process. The court is not supposed to be the final arbiter in the electoral process. That’s not the intendment of the philosophers who propounded democracy. We were taught in those days that the ballot boxes were the most painless killers. If you are under- performing as a politician, the people go to the ballot box and kill you silently, and you go home and lick your wounds.
“I’m sure those who philosophised democracy will be turning in their graves the way democracy is murdered in this country. At this stage, we expect that judges should be more circumspect. When you are 60 years and above, you don’t need to be corrupt “.
Comprehensive verdict – Edokpolo, UPAN facilitator
However, the National Facilitator, United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria, UPAN, Ambassador Ayamekhue Edokpolo, told Saturday Vanguard in Edo State, “First, the pronouncement of the judges has further broadened the huge confidence reposed on the judiciary in Nigeria. The reason is that the judgment was comprehensive, and every point was lucid, deliberately explained in detail that an illiterate can assimilate or comprehend the issues. We can strongly improve our electoral system when the judiciary stands its ground to ensure that lawyers do not bring frivolous cases to tribunals hearing such cases.
Another way we can improve our electoral system is what I call the agility of the electorate. If the electorate insists on good governance and capacity and rejects bribes or favors from the candidates or the political parties, they will invest fundamental sacrifices for the strengthening of our electoral system because the greatest threat to our electoral system is monetization. It is highly monetized, which is why those who have the capacity to perform well feel intimidated to step forward. For instance, you will need private jets to run a presidential election in Nigeria. If you want to run for a governorship election, you are going to need bulletproof vehicles. Therefore, if the followers deliberately refuse inducement and are firm on capacity, it will greatly improve our electoral system. We must sensitize institutions like INEC, police, and army that play good roles in the election to maintain greater impartiality and remove their personal interests from the electoral system.
Electoral laws shouldn’t be incongruous — Benjamin, IYC
National spokesperson, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Bedford Benjamin, stated: “The country’s electoral laws must be definite and devoid of contradictions and contradicting sections of the law, ranging from electronic transmission of results, and management of pieces of evidence of electoral malpractices.”
[Vanguard]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Saturday address World leaders at the 2023 G20 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India.
The Nigerian leader will address Global Unity in ‘One Earth-One Family-One Future’ Session at the Summit, which will be held at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Naija News reports that President Tinubu, who had earlier been welcomed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the venue of the G-20 Summit, will address the gathering at 3:00 p.m. in India and 10:30 a.m. in Nigeria.
Recall that Tinubu on Friday received Foreign Policy and Economic Intelligence briefings ahead of the commencement of the G-20 Summit today.
According to a statement by the President’s special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu received briefings from the Hon. Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade & Investment.
Taking to the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), Ngelale wrote: “H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives comprehensive Foreign Policy & Economic Intelligence briefings from the Hon. Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade & Investment in preparation for tomorrow’s commencement of the G-20 Summit.”
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said despair or surrender is not an option in seeking justice on the petitions challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President.
Naija News recalls that PEPT on Wednesday upheld the victory of Tinubu in the 2023 election and dismissed the petitions of Peter Obi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
On Friday, Peter Obi, during a press briefing in Anambra State, said he was heading to the Supreme Court and would ensure that all the judicial process is exhausted.
In a statement via X, formally known as Twitter, on Saturday, Peter Obi said understandably many LP supporters would be disappointed with the PEPT verdict; however, despair is not an option.
The former governor of Anambra State urged his supporters to keep hope alive as the journey ahead required sacrifice, perseverance and resilience.
He wrote: “Understandably, there has been a note of general disappointment within our fold and, indeed the general population of Nigerians who hoped that the outcome of the February 25th Presidential election would usher in a new and different Nigeria of our dreams. That dream has only been deferred for now but remains alive for all times.
“Since the Tribunal verdict, there has been a note of general despair among the Obidients and the generality of our supporters. I assure you all that on this journey, despair or surrender is not in our options. Today, I want to personally reach out and encourage you all to keep hope alive. Considering the challenges that lie ahead of us as a movement, despair is not an option.
“Nothing good in life comes easy. Throughout history, positive changes come only with sacrifices, perseverance, resilience and fluctuating fortunes. Right from the onset of our journey, I told you all that the journey upon which we were about to embark was not a short sprint, but a long and tough marathon. It was always going to be difficult, painful and excruciating.
“We set out knowing fully well that the forces we are up against are entrenched and formidable but not insurmountable. They would resist the wind of change and try to push us into surrender or despair. We must not succumb to their design.
“I am inspired that we have endured the odds placed in our way at every point. In such a short space of time, we have persevered to get to the point where we cannot be ignored any longer. Therefore, I urge you to abide and never think of giving up.
“I wish to assure you that our recent disappointments have inspired me to re-dedicate myself to the cause of building a New Nigeria. For me, rescuing Nigeria is a lifelong commitment, and on this journey, we shall be resolute but orderly, principled but lawful.”