I WON’T LEAVE LABOUR PARTY – REPS UMEHA
I WON’T LEAVE LABOUR PARTY – REPS UMEHA Member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, has said he was not going to leave the Labour Party, the platform on which he was elected to the House. Speaking during an interactive session with some members of his Constituency on Easter Sunday, Representative Umeha said he had no reason to leave the Labour Party. According to him, “I was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and when I wanted to contest election on the platform of the party to go to the House of Representatives, they denied me ticket. God presented the Labour Party. I contested on its platform and won. Why then will I be leaving the party?, he asked. “Besides, our people have been in PDP for 24 years, and the party did not do anything for us”, he lamented. Umeha disclosed that his primary goal was how to ensure proper representation of the people of his with quality legislation and providing them with the much needed infrastructural support, through his Constituency projects. The federal lawmaker disclosed that he was in good rapport with his Governor, though they belong to different political parties. “I have good relationship with Governor Peter Mbah, even though we are in different political parties. We discuss. He respects my view, and we are all working for the good of our people, ” he explained. Umeha berated some members of the Labour Party in the Enugu State House of Assembly who, some few days ago, decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, and said the lawmakers had cheapened themselves. According to him, “the former LP House of Assembly members presented themselves as if they had enough supporters who would decamp along with them to the PDP. They were given money to mobilise the people, but when the Governor realized that they lacked home support, he quickly cancelled the event that was scheduled to take place at Michael Okpara Square in Enugu, and the lawmakers became like orphans”.
SETBACK FOR UZODINMA AT TRIBUNAL, WITNESSES GIVE CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONIES
SETBACK FOR UZODINMA AT TRIBUNAL, WITNESSES GIVE CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONIES A star witness for Governor Hope Uzodinma at the ongoing election petition tribunal in Abuja has admitted that the votes garnered by the Governor exceeded the number of accredited voters. Barrister Akolisa, who appeared before the Justice Oluyemi Osadebey-led panel on Friday, said that votes recorded for Governor Uzodinma in the Form EC8D result sheet issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) exceeded the number of accredited voters on the certified Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) report. During cross-examination, he noted that the number of voters in the result sheet must tally with accreditation in the BVAS but could not fathom why there was a huge disparity in this case. Also the principal of Mgbidi High School, where Governor Uzodinma allegedly obtained his controversial WAEC result was in court to give her testimony. The school official, Lillian Ozoemena, brought to the tribunal a rubber stamp which she brandished as the official stamp of Mgbidi High School as her only means of identification. However, she could not produce any evidence to back up her claims that Uzodinma passed through the school. During cross-examination by the counsel to Sen. Anyanwu, Mrs Ozoemena said she was at the tribunal on her own and not in her official capacity contrary to the deposition in her witness statement. The principal also said she was neither the Principal nor teacher at Mgbidi High School in 1982, discrediting her attempt to authenticate the controversial document. The tribunal has adjourned the matter for the adoption of the written addresses of both parties to April 24, 2024. Recall that INEC declared that Uzodinma won the governorship election by polling a total of 540,308 votes and his opponent Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP scored 71,503 votes. Mr Anyanwu and the PDP have challenged the outcome of the election, praying the tribunal to withdraw the Certificate of Return that was issued to Governor Uzodinma and declare Anyanwu as the duly elected Governor of Imo State. They also alleged that Uzodimma submitted forged WAEC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest the governorship poll. It can be recalled that in 2013, Festus Keyamo sued the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, over an alleged certificate forgery Uzodinma, then a senator representing Imo West at the National Assembly. According to Keyamo, inquiry and investigation into the names and persons that graduated from Mgbidi Boys’ High School in 1982 revealed that Mr. Uzodinma was not a graduate of the school in that year.
I’M STILL LP MEMBER, WON’T BE INVOLVED IN ANTI-PARTY – PETER OBI
I’M STILL LP MEMBER, WON’T BE INVOLVED IN ANTI-PARTY – PETER OBI The Labour Party, LP, 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed claims of dumping the party. Obi said he’s still a member and will never be involved in an anti-party. He spoke while addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday. “I am still a member of the Labour Party and I don’t and will never do anti-party,” he said. The former Anambra State governor also insisted that he didn’t lose the 2023 presidential election. He said the impact of his followers known as Obidients were felt in Nigeria and the globe. “We did not lose the election of 2023, we won, your (Obidients) impact was felt all over the world and you can’t take that for granted. “It’s actually a stepping stone, hold your head high and celebrate. Together, a new Nigeria is possible,” he added.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- March 30, 2024
- 118 views
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED King Charles III has only been Britain’s reigning monarch for 18 months, yet his funeral plans are already set amid his battle with pancreatic cancer. Named “Operation Menai Bridge,” the monarch’s funeral processions will look similar to Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremonies, dubbed “Operation London Bridge.” As his cancer progresses, royal insiders tell In Touch that Charles’ final resting plans are of timely prioritization. “It’s a fairly common thing to do among the British royalty, but in Charles’ case expediency is necessary,” says the source, who notes that “some courtiers believe Charles’ cancer is worse than they’re making it out to be.” “Operation Menai Bridge” is set to include familiar protocols. When the monarch dies, Charles’ body will be moved from the throne room at Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. He will lie in state, and his official funeral will take place nine days later. He will likely be buried in the royal vault at Windsor Castle. “It will have all the pomp and circumstance befitting a British monarch,” adds the source. The update comes shortly after a separate high ranking royal insider told In Touch that Charles is not only battling pancreatic cancer – a timely update given that he did not share what kind of cancer he was diagnosed with – but has a mere two years to live. “King Charles is much sicker than the palace lets on and simply isn’t up to the job of running his fractious family, the crown’s business interests and fulfilling the daily duties of the monarchy,” the member of the royal inner circle revealed in early March. “His cancer is eating him alive. He’s very frail. The situation is desperate.” Royal watchers have begun to witness his decline, too. Though he will be stepping out on Easter Sunday for a service at Windsor, the king is missing from the royal calendar for the foreseeable future, instead relying heavily on his sister, Princess Anne, to do the work of the royal family. While many would have assumed his heir, Prince William, would be stepping up to the plate, he too is missing from the royal schedule due to Princess Kate Middleton’s own cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, additional sources told In Touch that more could be at play between Charles and William outside of the family’s respective health crises, as the king is under the impression William is not ready to take the throne. “Charles knows the pressures of being the monarch, and he just isn’t sure William is ready to take his place,” the third insider revealed, noting that William is “currently facing a public relations disaster.” “It seems premature, and there could be consequences.” With such an update, the future of the monarchy seems shaky at best, and even Queen Camilla is said to be frustrated by Charles’ declining health and weakened status. “Behind the scenes, Camilla is disgusted by the king’s apparent weakness and is providing him little comfort as he battles his fatal cancer,” a palace courtier told In Touch in early March, highlighting her vacation from royal duties which started on March 4.“By going on holiday, she was thumbing her nose at stepson William, who is incapable of shouldering the monarchy’s burdens on his own.”
WHY I IGNORED LABOUR PARTY CONVENTION – PETER OBI
WHY I IGNORED LABOUR PARTY CONVENTION — PETER OBI Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 elections has declared his stance on the recent national convention of the party that saw Barr Julius Abure emerge as Julius Abure emerge as national chairman. Addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday, Peter Obi said he ignored the convention because the party leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultation with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.The former Anambra Governor emphasised the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.
PDP APPOINTS CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR STATES, LGAS, WARDS
PDP APPOINTS CARETAKER COMMITTEES FOR STATES, LGAS, WARDS The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the appointment of the Executives whose tenures have expired in some State, Local Government and Ward chapters to serve as Caretaker Committees in the affected States, LGAs and Wards respectively. The appointment was pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Party on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said that the Caretaker Committees have been mandated to run the affairs of the Party at their appropriate levels for a period of 3 (three) months as follows: ABIA – Local Government Area (LGA): With effect from March 22, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 15, 2024 AKWA IBOM – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024 ; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 BAUCHI – LGA: With effect from March 22, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 BAYELSA – State: With effect from March 23, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 BENUE- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 CROSS RIVER – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 DELTA- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 EKITI – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 ENUGU – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 GOMBE- State: With effect from March 23, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 IMO – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 JIGAWA- Ward: With effect from March 16, 2024 KADUNA. – Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 NIGER. – Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 ONDO – LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 PLATEAU – LGA: With effect from March 23, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 RIVERS- State: With effect from March 21, 2024; LGA: With effect from March 18, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 SOKOTO- Ward: With effect from March 16, 2024 TARABA- Ward: With effect from March 14, 2024 Federal Capital Territory (FCT)- LGA: With effect from March 21, 2024; Ward: With effect from March 7, 2024 The NWC stated that in situations where vacancies occurred in the respective Excos due to death, defection and/or resignation, no replacement should be effected for such vacancies in the Caretakers Committees.The NWC charged all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the Party to continue to work together to ensure the stability, growth and success of the Party in their respective States, Local Government Areas and Wards.
- Foreign Affairs
- March 26, 2024
- 111 views
INTERPOL GOES AFTER FLEEING BINANCE DIRECTOR – MINISTER
INTERPOL GOES AFTER FLEEING BINANCE DIRECTOR – MINISTER Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday said there is no hiding place for Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Director of Binance who escaped from custody and fled the country after he was detained by the Nigerian Government. The minister said the International Police (Interpol) were currently on Anjarwalla’s trail. Idris was reacting to the Binance executive’s escape from Nigeria. According to Idris, since Binance is an international firm, there is no way the culprit will evade arrest. His explanation came barely few hours after the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed that Anjarwalla, a key suspect in the ongoing criminal investigation regarding Binance’s activities in Nigeria, managed to escape lawful custody on Friday, March 22nd, 2024. In an official statement released by the Head of Strategic Communication for the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, it was explained that collaborative efforts between the office, relevant security agencies, various government bodies and the international community are already underway to swiftly locate and detain the fugitive. The statement stressed that security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect as preliminary investigation shows that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention. It would be recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform. Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts before he escaped while under a 14-day remand order issued by a court.He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024.
LP CRISIS: PETER OBI, OBIDIENTS DUMP ABURE AS SEARCH FOR NEW CHAIRMAN BEGINS
LP CRISIS: PETER OBI, OBIDIENTS DUMP ABURE, AS SEARCH FOR NEW CHAIRMAN BEGINS The crisis rocking the Labour Party, LP, took a dangerous dimension last week, with members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, picketing the party’s national secretariat and some of its state offices. There are also indications that the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and his supporters known as Obidients may have abandoned the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure to his fate. This is not unconnected to the internal crisis that has been rocking the party structure since the 2023 general elections was concluded. After a series of legal battles with the factional chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa, Abure has been in the news over alleged financial impropriety and other disturbing issues. Peter Obi had in February 2024, called for a thorough and forensic investigation into an embezzlement allegation levelled against the party’s chairman, Abure. The call by the former Anambra Governor was in response to allegations earlier made by Oluchi Oparah, the national treasurer of the party, accusing Abure of allegedly misappropriating N3.5 billion. Oparah also alleged that the Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, was working hand-in-hand with the Edo State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the September 2024 governorship polls. Similarly, in a letter signed by Comrades TItus Amba and Chris Uyot, the chairman and the secretary of NLC Political Commission, the party expressed concerns over recurrent scandals and pending cases of fraud. Abure was recently accused by some stakeholders of the party, including the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, of running the LP as a “sole administrator.” The Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, who spoke when the workers occupied the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja recently, said the decision to picket the party’s headquarters was taken to express workers’ grievances against Abure’s style of leadership. He said, ”Now, it is in the hands of this usurper, he is looking for N30 million, N40 million, and so on to buy forms, excluding the people who founded the party. Enough is enough, Abure must go,” said the acting General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Bello Ismail on the cost of governorship interest and nomination forms. Similarly, in a letter issued by Comrades TItus Amba and Chris Uyot, the chairman and secretary of NLC Political Commission, respectively, the union also knocked Abure for not being committed to the ideology of the Labour Party. The embattled LP Chairman was in the news recently again over his alleged plan to hold National Convention without due processes. The Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, was accused of planning to hold the national convention of the party in Umuahia, Abia State capital on March 27. The planned convention was captured in a notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 13. The move was, however, rejected by critical stakeholders, such as the House of Reps Caucus and the NLC, leading to the recent picketing of the party’s secretariat last week. Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission – the political wing of the NLC, had in an open letter dated March 15, condemned the planned convention. While demanding for the immediate resignation of Abure, the commission described the plan as illegal, noting that it would not allow any form of illegality in the affairs of the party to stand. A source who spoke on Saturday on condition of anonymity, alleged that Abure’s intention was to impose leadership on the party. He said major stakeholders in that party were against the March convention, stressing that the party needs more time to select its leaders. “Everybody in the party including our leader, Peter Obi is tired of Abure’s leadership.…