Omoyele Sowore tasks other presidential candidates to make public their campaign funding sources and expenses.

In line with the best campaign practice and the spirit of accountability as we hold dear in the African Action Congress (AAC), the Sowore Political Action Committee (SPAC) has released final breakdown of the 2023 Presidential election campaign donations, sources of funding and expenditure.

Recall that the committee gave monthly updates during the campaign and this is not the first time the Committee will be releasing a breakdown such as this. In 2019, the AAC candidate also released a complete breakdown of campaign expenses, the first recorded in the history of electioneering campaign in Nigeria’s history.

The Sowore Presidential campaign organization, then in a novel manner released detailed accounts of money received and spent, which was published on major dailies in the country. See- https://www.icirnigeria.org/sowores-presidential-campaign-organisation-publishes-statement-of-account/

Asides monetary contribution, we can not quantify the human resources put into the campaign from Nigerians who supported us day and night. Those who  stood their ground and gave their time to toeing the path of honour and integrity. We can not thank you all enough.

The Campaign Organization also seizes this medium to challenge other Presidential candidates including the one who was sworn in, to release their campaign financials, that’s if any books were kept at all.

We sincerely hope that those in particular who sought public donations during the campaign season will also show to Nigerians the donations they got from the campaign donors across Nigeria and beyond.

We can’t have a clean leadership recruitment process in this country with people who shroud their campaign spending in secrecy.

We believe that those who can’t keep books of campaign expenses and transparently account for the expenses incurred can’t run a country like Nigeria properly.

Signed:

Femi Adeyeye
National Publicity Secretary,
African Action Congress
20/6/2023.

VP decorates him with new rank of acting IGP

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed his readiness to work towards making Nigeria a crime-free nation.

Speaking with newsmen after being decorated by  Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, Egbetokun pledged his preparedness to do his duties to the country as top Police chief, saying he felt like a tiger, ready to pursue all criminals out of the country.

Asked what his feeling as new Police IG is, he said “now I have just been decorated and I’m looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning by 11am. 

“I really can’t describe how I feel currently, but if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now, I feel like a tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria.

“And some other times, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now”.

Also speaking, former Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, who appeared in mufti, expressed confidence in his successor, saying he would carry on from where he is stopping.

According to him: “It’s a stage; you come, you work and you go. I’m happy I’m handing over to somebody I know, that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stopped.

“We grew up in the job, we grew up together. I was his boss at a time, not even when I was IG, he worked under me twice, we’ve been working together and I know how he can go ahead to champion the cause of the police from where I have stopped”, Baba said.

Vice President Shettima had earlier on Tuesday, decorated Egbetokun, as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, at the Conference hall of his office at the State House, Abuja.

The event was witnessed by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; Imo State governor, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodinma;

Others are the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

[ThisDay]

Former Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, has said he has no resentment regarding his removal from the position following President Bola Tinubu’s compulsory retirement directive.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that President Tinubu mandated the retirement of Mr. Alkali on Monday, along with the heads of the Nigerian military.

Kayode Egbetokun, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, assumed the position as Alkali’s successor.

After completing his handover to Mr. Egbetokun, Mr. Alkali shared his thoughts on his departure. “It’s a natural progression in one’s career. You come, you work, and eventually, you step aside. I am content knowing that I am passing the baton to someone I trust to continue the leadership from where I left off,” he stated.

When questioned about his familiarity with his successor, Mr. Alkali replied, “We have a longstanding professional relationship. We have worked together closely, and I have even been his superior during my time as IG. He has served under my command twice, and I am confident in his ability to advance the objectives of the police force.”

“Today, as I receive my decoration, I eagerly anticipate assuming my new role tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Words cannot fully capture my present emotions, but I can tell you that right now, I feel a ferocious determination within me, akin to a tiger, ready to combat crime across Nigeria. At other times, I sense the strength of a lion, prepared to vanquish all internal adversaries of our nation. Such is my sentiment at this moment,” Mr. Alkali concluded.

[PoliticsNigeria]

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated an amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in order to address the flaws in the legislation.

Diri also said the review would go a long way in tackling the ongoing crisis between oil companies and their host communities.

Describing the Act as a time bomb, the governor emphasised that since the country operates a federal system of government, it was an aberration for the federal government to deal directly with oil producing communities while excluding the states and local governments.

Diri stated this on Tuesday when the new Commander of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Eugenio Ferreira, and other officers called on him in Yenagoa.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the oil producing states and the local governments were now being called upon to intervene in resolving issues between the oil companies and their host communities.

He said: “We are happy we have a PIA that guides the industry. However, we saw a lot of flaws even before the Bill was assented to. At that point, l referred to the Act as a time bomb.

“I also said that there would still be serious crisis between the oil producing communities and oil companies and by extension, the Federal Government. One of such indications is that the Federal Government in that Act successfully excluded the state and local governments to deal directly with the communities.

“In recent times, we have started seeing crisis between the communities and oil companies over the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and other issues. And the state governments have been called to intervene. So that Act needs further amendment.”

Diri said both state and local governments should be incorporated into the oil industry legislation
to enable them contribute towards ensuring peace and stability in the industry.

He also called for collaboration between the oil producing states and relevant institutions to bring development closer to the people as one of the surest ways in tackling oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining activities.

According to him, “while as a government, we would not support anybody involved in oil theft, illegal oil refining and all other acts that contribute to pollution, underdevelopment and killings, we would also like to state that the best way to tackle the issues is to fast-track development to these areas. We can assure you that these same people will become protectors of oil installations domiciled in the Niger Delta.”

The governor welcomed Rear Admiral Ferreira and urged him to join hands with the state government in surmounting the security challenges in his area of operation.

Earlier, the new OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Ferreira, said he was posted to the command in May this year.

He noted that the OPDS was established with a mandate to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta and ensure a stable and peaceful environment for all.

While expressing gratitude to the state government for the support given to the command, Ferreira said they had achieved 80 per cent success of attaining their mandate, which he attributed to the kinetic and non-kinetic approach of the military.

He commended the governor for his support to the task force and pledged that the command would continue to cooperate and collaborate with the state government to ensure peace and security of the state.

[Vanguard]

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), a non-governmental organisation, says it plans to hold a one-week intensive training for  National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on business management.

The training is in collaboration with the Lagos Business School (LBS).

In a notice on social media, the nonprofit said application is currently ongoing and would end by July 18, 2023.

The organisation said the training, which is part of its ‘venture in management programme’ (ViMP), is for selected NYSC members.

“The goal of ViMP is to prepare NYSC members for the world of business as managers and entrepreneurs,” JAN said.

“This opportunity is designed to expose future business leaders to the responsibilities, opportunities, and demands of a career in management.

“The weeklong programme includes rigorous and stimulating classroom meetings (led by facilitators from the Lagos Business School), case studies, panel discussions, study groups, guest speakers, and recreation, culminating in a strategy workshop, during which the participants present solutions to different business problems.

“The learning environment mirrors that of the top business schools around the world with case studies focusing on business ethics, accounting and finance, marketing, strategy, social enterprise, general management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”

“Participants also engage in a community service project and teach JAN programs in nearby elementary schools.”

According to JAN, qualified applicants must be serving youth corps members or recently finished; must be 27 years or younger; must have excellent academic records (minimum 2:1).

The organisation also said applicants must possess a proven interest in general management, and have a track record of leadership, adding that participation in previous JAN program will be an added advantage.

Applicants, the NGO said, must complete the application form online, have a curriculum vitae (must be saved with your full name), and a proof of service (NYSC ID card or call-pp letter).

JAN said interested persons can apply here.

[TheCable]

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja would deliver judgment on July 20, 2023, in the suit filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Department of State Services (DSS).

The date was fixed by Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday after Kanu’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and lawyer to the DSS, A.M. Danlami, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.

Kanu in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 2341/2022 is seeking a court order mandating the DSS to allow him unhindered access to his doctors.

The court had earlier on Feb. 1, granted Kanu, the permission to apply for an order of mandamus he sought after an ex-parte motion moved by Ozekhome to the effect but in a preliminary objection filed by the DSS, the secret police urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

At the resumed hearing, Ozekhome told the court that if Kanu dies in detention it would cause a national commotion, and therefore prayed the court to allow his client access to his doctors in the presence of the security operatives.

He further argued that a defendant, based on the provisions of the law, should stand his trial and not be in a wheelchair while being prosecuted.

“We asked if we could see his medical report and they are refusing and if he dies, this will cause national commotion,” he said.

Ozekhome added that the DSS has also failed to honour previous court judgenents delivered in favour of the IPOB leader.

“In the judgment, the court awarded the sum of N500 million damages against the respondents for illegal rendition of the defendant from Keyan to Nigeria,” he argued.

Besides, he said a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had exonerated him in a judgment when it dismissed the remaining seven counts after Justice Nyako struck out eight counts from the 15-count charge earlier preferred against him

“What we they lose to allow an independent doctor to examine him in their presence. “We rely on all the processes to humbly request you to grant our omnibus prayers,” he said.

Ozekhome also countered the allegations that Kanu jumped bail on April 25, 2017 after the court granted him bail, arguing that his client rather escaped a military invasion at his residence, said as soon as he got to Israel, he deposed to an affidavit to the effect.

“We filed a counter of five paragraphs. In the instant case, there are two respondents, but in the suit they referred to, there were three respondents.

“So on the issue of parties, they failed.

“On subject matter, this suit is seeking an order of judicial review by way of mandamus but in the other suit, it was filed for the enforcement of his fundamental rights and not judicial reviews.

“The former suit sought 11 reliefs but ours has two reliefs,” he said.

However, the lawyer for the DSS, Danlami urged the court to dismiss Kanu’s plea for lack of jurisdiction.

The lawyer said in their counter affidavit with four exhibits, one of the exhibit showed that Kanu was physically and clinically sound.

“We urge my lord to dismiss this suit in the interest of justice and national interest,” he said.

After listening to the parties, Justice Nyako adjourned the matter until July 20 for judgment.

A former Kaduna central lawmaker, Shehu Sani has taken a jibe at the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sani, while praising the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu noted that Buhari era was boring.

He stated that Buhari can now see how power can be put to use to reawaken the spirit of the nation.

He argued that the former president’s era was ridden with a lack of vision and emptiness, maintaining that it was controlled by a parasitic cabal.

The former lawmaker insisted that Buhari claimed the previous government was highly corrupt, but during his tenure, he harbored and cultivated the most larcenous and opaque Federal Cabinet in Nigeria’s history.

Speaking via Twitter, he wrote,

“Wherever he is, the former President is watching how power can be effectively used to reawaken and reinforce the spirit of a nation. A contrast to his boring era that was characterized by deficiency of vision, subservience to a parasitic cabal and notorious for its emptiness.

“He called all the previous Governments kwarapt while he cultivated, incubated and harboured the most larcenous and opaque Federal Cabinet in Nigeria’s history.

A committee has been set up to consider the demands of the Federal Government (FG), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and given an eight-week deadline to decide on the minimum wage.

Recall the decision to set up a committee was collectively made on June 5, 2023, as part of the resolution by the unions and the FG following the fuel subsidy removal.

The Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Special Duties, and Strategy, Dele Alake, the President TUC Festus Osifo, and President of NLC Comrade Joe Ajaero disclosing that a Presidential Steering Committee to which several sub-committees would report on various aspects of the demands has been created.

Ajaero said that there are long-term and short-term effects of subsidy removal and in those key areas, several sub-committees will be created to report on the various demands before the end of August.

He said “The purpose of the meeting today is actually to put together the framework, what we submitted as our demand, how will they be delivered and so we are looking at that framework, the government came with what they think will work, we also made some input. From this night, we are going to continue the work to have that framework together.

“This meeting is intended to give life to those agreements that were reached. We have set up committees in those key areas to work on them to ensure we wrap up in the next eight weeks.”

“We agreed that anything we are putting together we are going to conclude everything in eight weeks. Everything must be rolled out within that time not something that we are going to leave endlessly.”

Highlighting some of its current challenges and how to tackle them, he said “The issue of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), we need experts, people that are willing to invest, the help of national oil company, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to come up with what they need to do and the time with which they are going to deliver

“These are some workings that are required beyond this meeting, and a technical committee will be incorporated into the Presidential committee but we must conclude everything maximum in eight weeks.

‘’So those technical committees, some will submit their reports in one week when they submit in one week, we implement when they submit in two weeks, we also implement but the last should not exceed eight weeks, and by June 26th, 2023, we will convene here again.”

Traders in the Alaba International market in Ojo Local Government Area, of Lagos State have come out to recount their ordeal following a demolition exercise that took place in the market last Sunday.

Naija News reports that the leadership of some sections of the market have claimed that they were not informed about the exercise as asserted by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

It would be recalled that the agency had on Sunday, June 18th,2023, stormed the market and demolished over 30 structures claiming they were old structures and the demolition exercise was to avert any building collapse of any sort.

However, traders in the market have cried out saying the demolition exercise was unlawful because they were not pre-informed.

Speaking at the demolition site, the President-General of Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads, Hon. Geoffrey Udochukwu Mbonu, denied that the LASBCA gave them prior notice.

He said they only learnt about a proposed demolition plan and came with armed policemen to the market on Friday, June 16th, without seeing the leadership of the market.

Expressing his displeasure about the incident, Mbonu noted that the government took them unawares by carrying out the exercise unexpectedly

He further stated that “We are under a local government, where huge revenue is generated, we pay tax and what the government did was to demolish our buildings alongside, the victims’ wares within the space of two days.”

Narrating how their ordeal started, Mbonu was quoted by The Sun to have disclosed that officials of the LSSBCA came around on Friday, June 16th,2023, and without any notice or asking for the market leadership, they saw armed policemen on Sunday and the demolishing commenced.

He said the leadership is not against the government doing its work, but it expected some communication and notice of a sort.

Explaining some of the offences for which the affected buildings were demolished, he said structures were erected on waterways, thereby obstructing drainages and causing flooding, especially during the rainy seasons, adding that ” Lagos has been a swampy area and Igbo traders have always contributed to the development in the State.”

Mbonu said that each time the officials came they asked for authorization papers and never issued a notice of demolition, adding that ”The buildings marked close to the canal which have been certified dilapidated and distressed had been marked for years but, they asked for papers each time they came. What about the new buildings that are not close to the canal, that LASBCA has equally destroyed, our secretariat and other new structures?

“Authorization paper implies. If your building is in a very bad condition you will be told to break it. Lagos state is a swampy area, when they came last year, what they asked for was paper.

He emphasized that they said it’s distressed buildings and those blocking the free flow of water through the provided waterways”.What about other buildings that are newly built and it’s brought down? Government need to review the exercise carried out by LASBCA.

” It was about two weeks ago they came with armed policemen to the market, I saw them, they didn’t contact the leadership of the market about demolition. This market is under the Local Government They only spoke about it on Friday, June 16th,2023. They didn’t give traders time to vacate the place. The demolition took place with our goods and documents destroyed.”

Mbonu added that he understands that there is a developer that has discussed with the Local Government and the State to acquire some land in that area, this is why they are demolishing some of the buildings to have enough space to put up the type of building they want erected.

‘‘There are building close to the canal, if that is what they are talking about it would be a different thing. What about structures that are far from the canal? The developer has shifted from the canal to acquire more space for the type of structure he wants to put up.

“This is one of the biggest markets in West Africa that should not be toiled with. Revenue generation in Alaba is enormous. The tiers of government are supposed to carry, Alaba traders along in their decision because they are Nigerians.

“I am the leader of one of the sections demolished by the government. My office is gone, and the secretariat we built recently has been demolished.

“As traders, we were not aware of the imminent demolition of certain structures in the market. We are not against the government but the treatment meted on us without being informed for us to have time to even removed our goods. The market is now porous with the openings. They have exposed our properties, and with the demolition, they didn’t provide any security that would safeguard our properties,” he added.

Also, the President of Alaba International Market Association, electronics section, Chief Camillus Amajuoyi said the demolition took place unexpectedly, with both old and new structures affected by the demolishing exercise.

He explained that “The LASBCA issued a notice on Friday, June 16th, they came with armed policemen, So I made some calls I called Ojo Local Government Chairman to inform him of the development.

“I inquired if he was aware that properties are being destroyed in Alaba. The Ojo LG chairman said he was aware, he stated that the properties that would be destroyed were the ones marked for years.

Amajuoyi stated that they were shocked to see the extent of demolition going on, and when ”I called the LG boss, he said they are demolishing to prevent disasters and to save lives. They don’t want buildings to collapse on anybody.

”There have been rumours that some developers have bought that portion of Alaba, nine years ago.

“I got the information about two weeks ago and with the ongoing demolition, I have called for peace and calm.

“No violence, I spoke to my people to maintain peace and calmness. While we go through the right channels in addressing the situation. Alaba is a collection of 16 sections, no individual can occupy it.

”I have called the Ojo LG chairman, explaining the challenge that these people have gone overboard and he has not visited the site to see what is the situation of things.”