Dons EzeNORTH MUST BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE SEPARATION – PROF LUGGA
NORTH MUST BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE SEPARATION – PROF LUGGA Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, the 5th Wazirin Katsina, has called on the northern region to unite and prepare for self-determination, much like their southern counterparts. Speaking at a community engagement event organized by the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) in Katsina, Lugga stressed the need for northerners to brace themselves for the possibility of separation from Nigeria, reflecting on the persistent calls for secession from the South. Lugga lamented the lack of unity among northerners in defending their rights, contrasting it with the determination of groups like the Biafrans. He urged the North to learn from the proactive measures taken by southern states, particularly in addressing security challenges. He noted that while the security situation in the South is less severe, they have formed regional security forces like Amotekun, while the North remains passive. Referencing historical concerns, Lugga highlighted the apprehension of early Nigerian leaders about the amalgamation of the North and South, a union that, he argued, remains fragile. He warned that without preparation, the North could struggle to survive should the South succeed in breaking away. CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, also emphasized the urgency of community-led actions to address Nigeria’s socioeconomic and security challenges. He criticized the country’s leadership for prioritizing elections over the nation’s future and urged communities to take charge of their destinies through collective action.
PDP BLASTS FUBARA, SAYS HE REJECTED OFFER TO CONTROL PARTY STRUCTURE
PDP BLASTS FUBARA, SAYS HE REJECTED OFFER TO CONTROL PARTY STRUCTUREContrary to the widespread impression that he was denied control of the structures of the party in Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blasted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, accusing him of whining after initially rejecting an offer to control the party machinery.The party maintained on Sunday that it had done everything possible for the governor but he had failed to mobilize his co-governors and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for support.The acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdulahi, who revealed this on Sunday to Tribune Online, recalled that when a vacancy existed for the post of the Rivers State chapter chairman of the party, the NWC requested Fubara to forward a nominee but he turned down the chance on the grounds that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should provide the nominee.The party spokesman wondered at what point the Rivers governor realized that he had to take control of the party structure in the state.He denied that the national leadership of the party had taken the side of the former Rivers State governor against the incumbent.Asked why the PDP could not support Governor Fubara in his struggle with Wike for the control of Rivers PDP, he explained: “It’s a very, very long story that we will not be able to make sense of now. The kind of opportunity given to Fubara by this party is the sort that you never imagine exist from any political party to any of its members, not a governor, not a president.“It is the sort that you would not believe any member will enjoy, any person no matter his status, whether in former president, because if I start now talking, I’ll dig out what we have been keeping in the cooler, the opportunities, the chances, the repeated chances given to this governor for him to take the leadership and take control of the structure.“He was the first person that came to meet this NWC when they requested for the replacement of the state’s chairman of the PDP. He said no no no no, nobody should call him that they should call oga in Abuja, let oga give the person, anyone oga gives he is comfortable.“This was the beginning of the whole of this problem. He was the one who said he cannot take decisions when Nyesom Wike is still alive. That was before the relationship went sour. So, at what point did you now stop recognizing him as your boss, that you start taking all of those decisions?“See, why we don’t need to delve too much into the back and forth of a River State, what is important is that at the point that we have reached now, the summary of it all is that a governor with a state like Rivers, it was the same state Wike occupied that he was able to give PDP the required opposition it confronted the Buhari-led federal government for eight years.“Fubara is sitting on that same saddle now and yet, cannot be able to rally his colleagues, governors behind him. He cannot be able to hold the National Working Committee to identify with him just because his predecessor is a minister in Abuja.“All of us, we thought he was worthy of the attention, but the more you look the less you understand. You can’t be crying like a baby all the time. You cannot provide leadership, fight it out.“Do you think all the governors are comfortable? Why are they in charge of their respective state except him? Something is missing about this guy. So, please, at the risk of sounding immodest, we have done the best we can…
SENATE THREATENS UMAHI, DABRI-EREWA, OTHERS WITH WARRANT OF ARREST
SENATE THREATENS UMAHI, DABRI-EREWA, OTHERS WITH WARRANT OF ARREST The Senate has threatened the Minister of Works, David Umahi; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack; Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and others with the issuance of a warrant of arrest against them for failing to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Other chief executives who also risked the warrant of arrest are those of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company and Sally Best Properties Limited. The Senate’s resolution was sequel to the complaint of its chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), about the refusal of the chief executives to honour invitations sent to them on petitions against them. Senator Imasuen, in a motion, moved through Order 42 of the Senate’s Standing Rules, lamented that several invitations sent to heads of the affected agencies to appear before his committee for explanations or defence on petitions filed against them by aggrieved Nigerians or corporate bodies were ignored. He then requested the Senate to mandate his committee to issue a warrant of arrest against the recalcitrant chief executives. Responding to the request, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said: “You already have the power as provided for by Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution. Please use it by issuing warrant of arrest against any head of agency refusing to appear before the public petition committee. “Appearances of the invited people before the committee are very important for justice and fairness on issues raised against them in the petitions before the Senate through the Public Petitions Committee.” After securing the mandate of the Senate on the issuance of warrants of arrest against heads of the affected agencies, Senator Imasuen told journalists that a list of the affected agencies would be released at the appropriate time, which he did on Sunday through a statement. In the statement, he said: “Fresh letters of invitations have been sent to heads of the affected agencies, upon which warrant of arrest would be issued if any one of them fails to appear.” He added that aside from the warrant of arrest to be issued against heads of the affected agencies, his committee would, this week, expeditiously treat a petition filed by Mr Onyebuchi Obioha on withholding of her daughter’s result by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, based on an alleged vindictive report written against her by the examination supervisor.
NINE PDP GOVERNORS ENDORSE DAMAGUM’S REMOVAL AS NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
NINE PDP GOVERNORS ENDORSE DAMAGUM’S REMOVAL AS NATIONAL CHAIRMAN Nine state governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have unanimously approved Iliya Damagum’s removal from his position as Acting National Chairman, a significant step toward strengthening internal unity within the party. The governors overwhelmingly endorsed the choice of Alhaji Ahmed Alaghi, the incumbent PDP National Treasurer, as the new Acting National Chairman during a virtual meeting yesterday. An adviser to one of the governors stated that the action is meant to guarantee rigorous adherence to the party’s constitution and to fortify party unity. Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori of Delta State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, and Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State were among the governors present. The meeting’s main decisions were the unanimous acceptance of Alhaji Ahmed Alaghi’s appointment as the new Acting National Chairman and the suspension of Iliya Damagum. The governors emphasized their commitment to the party’s advancement and reiterated their pledge to respect the PDP’s constitution and settle internal disputes through official party channels. The governors reiterate their dedication to forging a more cohesive and powerful PDP, putting the party’s interests ahead of their own personal ambitions,” the statement said. Damagum’s suspension is anticipated to go into effect right away, and ongoing communication between all parties involved will be necessary to guarantee a seamless transition.
BETWEEN SENATOR SHEHU SANI AND EX-GOV EL RUFAI’S WIFE
BETWEEN SENATOR SHEHU SANI AND EX-GOV EL RUFAI’S WIFE Shehu Sani, a one-term senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, took to his X to share his observation about the President’s trips abroad and inflation in Nigeria. In the post, he opined that Tinubu’s travelling out of the country has a way of shooting up prices of taxes and commodities. ‘’New law of economics; When the President travels out, Taxes and Prices goes up,” Sani wrote. Reacting, El-Rufai, fondly called the English teacher on X for her penchant for correcting grammatical errors on the platform, spotted the post and corrected the former lawmaker. Quoting Sani’s post, the former Kaduna First Lady pointed out that it should have read ‘’go up” and not ‘’goes up.” Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai. [X:@hadizel] Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai. [X:@hadizel] Following the development, some Nigerians besieged the comment section of El-Rifai’s post to share their thoughts. Below are some of the reactions; @Aprilkekule: “Whether “goes up” or “go up”, the message is clear……” @Northerner∅ said: “El-Rufai family and Shehu Sani tussle is unmatched. Astaghfurullah!🤭” @belloinuwa wrote: “This could literally start a war 😂😂😂.” @imustaphaa: “This one is the same generation thing. I can not comment on it. I come in peace.” @CroBender wrote: “English not his mother tongue 😂😂” During his stint in the Senate, Sani had a disagreement with Hadiza’s husband who was also Kaduna’s Governor at the time. Though belonging to the same party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the duo had an irreconcilable rift, which led to the eventual defection of the lawmaker from the party. Sani later joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) under whose platform he contested the 2019 election but lost to APC candidate, Uba Sani, incumbent governor of Kaduna and former ally of El-Rufai.
FLASHBACK: HOW TINUBU CRITICISED JONATHAN OVER PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
FLASHBACK: HOW TINUBU CRITICISED JONATHAN OVER PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL During his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exclaimed “Subsidy is gone”, resulting in an instant increase in fuel price from N198 per litre to N540. According to the president, fuel subsidy had become a clog in the wheel of progress and needed to give way for the country to survive. Tinubu, who said subsidy was fueling corruption, vowed to pump the money saved from it into others aspects of the economy. “You have paid attention to the subsidy removal. Why should we in good heart and sense, feed smugglers and be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries, even though they say not every day is Christmas? The elephant that was going to bring Nigeria to its knees is the subsidy. “A country that cannot pay salaries and we say we have potential to encourage ourselves. I think we did the right thing,” Tinubu had told some monarchs who visited him at Aso Rock a month after subsidy removal. Interestingly, Tinubu, as the national leader of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), condemned the removal of petrol subsidy by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan in January 2012. He called it “Jonathan tax” and accused the then president of breaching his social contract with the people. In a piece titled, ‘Removal of oil subsidy: President Jonathan breaks social contract with the people’, he noted that with the subsidy removal, the people would become “enslaved to greater misery.” The piece read partly: “By taking this step, the government has tossed the people into the depths of the midnight sea. Government demands the people swim to safety under their own power, claiming the attendant hardship will build character and add efficiency to the national economy. “It is easy to make these claims when one is dry and on shore. Government would have us believe that every hardship it manufactures for the people to endure is a good thing. This is a lie. The hardships they thrust upon the poor often bear no other purpose than to keep them poor. This is such a time. “I am not calling President Jonathan an evil man. I do not believe he is perverse. However, the economic ideas controlling him are so misguided that they have a perverse impact. Because he is slave to wrong-headed economics, the people will become enslaved to greater misery. This crisis will bear his name and will be his legacy. “The people now pay a steep tax for voting him into office. The removal of the subsidy is the ‘Jonathan tax.’ This situation shows that ideas count more than personalities. People may occupy office but how that person performs depends on the ideas that occupy his mind.”
INSIDE STORY OF ONGOING CRISIS IN PDP
INSIDE STORY OF ONGOING CRISIS IN PDP The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s leading opposition party, is arguably going through its most challenging moments ever.It is currently enmeshed in very critical internal crisis which may determine whether it sinks or swims ahead of the 2027 general elections.The latest crisis has exposed how polarized the leadership of the party has become in recent time and this development has also exposed how forces outside the party’s national secretariat are controlling the party.The National Working Committee (NWC) suspected to be controlled by external forces on Friday showed it’s true colour when factions in the body clashed and issued retaliatory suspensions against each other.While the faction aligned with the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, suspended the Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, the faction aligned with the National Chairman, in a statement by the National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, suspended Ologunagba and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.Ologunagba statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/PH/307/2024 against the party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”The statement by Chinwe Nnorom, suspending Ologunagba and Ajibade read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thurday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside..“As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South) H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.“Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee. The officers are:“Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Acting National Publicity Secretary and . Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser“The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.”Before the crisis escalated to the level of suspension, some political analysts had noted that the forces undermining the nation’s biggest opposition party are internal but fueled by external forces, this is even as some party members pointed out that the architect of PDP crisis are members with selfish interests. BLAMING ATIKU’S DISAPPEARING ACTA key member of the party blamed the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, for the crisis rocking the party.The key member also exonerated the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom…
RIVERS CRISIS: I DO NOT SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT BEING UPTURNED – SAN
RIVERS CRISIS: I DO NOT SEE THE POSSIBLITY OF APPEAL COURT DECISION BEING UPTURNED – SAN A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN Kunle Adegoke, has alleged that it is unlikely for the Supreme Court to overturn the appeal court’s decision, given the fundamental issues considered by the Appeal Court panel. He stated that the appellants’ role in the high court proceedings was taken into account, and that if the Governor Fubara faction had claimed not to have been served with the processes, the outcome might have been different. He further suggested that it would be prudent to acknowledge the court of appeal’s pronouncement. He stated that the parties involved should converge and accept the decision, allowing the House of Assembly to continue its operations while the court determines the validity of the decamped members’ membership. He said in an interview with Arise TV, ‘This issue is simply a matter of ego and political interest. The individuals involved are dictating everything that is happening, and that is why it would be better at this stage to let us take it that the court of appeal has pronounced. Why would it not be possible for parties to come together and say, ‘At this stage, let us follow the decision of the court of appeal’? Let us allow the House of Assembly, as it was initially composed, to continue its operations while the issue of whether those who have decamped are still valid members of the House of Assembly is determined by the court. I mean, this is yet to be determined by the court before which the matter is pending. But I do not see the possibility of the appeal court decision being upturned by the Supreme Court, especially considering the fundamental issues considered by the sound panel that delivered that decision. They took into consideration what role the appellants played at the level of the high court when the matter came up. Assuming the appellants could claim that they were not served with the processes that originated the case, it would have been a different thing.”
DRAMA AS FAYOSE DECLARES SELF PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, SUSPENDS WIKE, ATIKU, OTHERS
DRAMA AS FAYOSE DECLARES SELF PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, SUSPENDS WIKE, ATIKU, OTHERS Isaac Fayose, the brother of former Ekiti governor, Ayo Fayose, has declared himself the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Isaac went further to announce the suspension of some top members from the two factions of the party, such as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Ayo Fayose, Seyi Makinde, and other G5 members. He added that anyone who feels agitated by his decision should challenge it in the court. “It’s official, now I’m the new national Chairman of the PDP. The current [Acting] National Chairman, Mr Damagum, has been suspended and I’ve asked the security at Wadata House to keep the key with the Secretariat. “If you’re not happy, please, we don’t want you to come to the secretariat to make trouble. You can go to court. And the NWC, some of you have been suspended, drop all the PDP stuff with you at the security at Wandata. The former G5 has been suspended. Wike has been suspended. “Fayose has been suspended. Governor Seyi Makinde has been suspended. All the people doing anti-party have been suspended. Atiku too has been suspended because his ambition is giving us headache,” he declared. He added, “If you are not happy you should go to… pic.twitter.com/88OGlsNDvw Earlier, a faction of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had suspended Damagum and the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu. The factional NWC also suspended the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade. However, the Abuja Federal High Court restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman. The court ordered that no other person must be recognized as PDP national chairman other than Damagum until the national convention of the party scheduled for December next year.
FCT MINISTER, NYESON WIKE, BAUCHI GOVERNOR, BALA MOHAMMED, DIVIDE PDP
FCT MINISTER, NYESON WIKE, BAUCHI GOVERNOR, BALA MOHAMMED, DIVIDE PDP The internal conflict within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a new level of intensity, splitting the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) into factions. At the heart of the dispute is a struggle for control in Rivers State, involving former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. The crisis, which began after the court-ordered removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, has been exacerbated by Wike’s push to dominate party structures in Rivers. Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman, has faced growing dissent from within the party, leading to calls for his resignation. Tensions escalated when the Damagum-led NWC, aligned with Wike, approved controversial PDP congresses in Rivers State and postponed a critical National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from September 26 to October 24. This move ignited further conflict between Wike and current Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as a majority of PDP governors rallied behind Fubara, calling for a review of the congresses. Wike, in response, issued a warning on August 31, threatening to disrupt activities in the states of governors interfering in Rivers’ affairs. The PDP Governors’ Forum, chaired by Bala Mohammed, swiftly condemned Wike’s statement, labelling his threats as irresponsible. A significant setback occurred for Wike’s camp during local government elections on October 5, when 22 out of 23 newly elected chairmen were from the Action Peoples Party (APP), undermining Wike’s influence in the region. The internal strife came to a head on Friday, October 10, when the NWC, through a statement by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, announced the suspension of National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN). The suspension followed allegations of their opposition to Damagum’s leadership and efforts to block Wike’s control over party structures. The Damagum-led NWC quickly formed a committee, chaired by Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the accusations against Ologunagba and Ajibade. However, in a counter move, Ologunagba’s faction of the NWC announced the suspension of Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, accusing them of disloyalty and anti-party activities, particularly concerning a court appeal involving Rivers State lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a dramatic turn, Ologunagba’s group appointed National Treasurer Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the acting National Chairman, further deepening the divide. The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, called for calm and urged both factions to de-escalate tensions and restore unity within the party. Wabara reiterated the BoT’s commitment to peace, stressing the need for the party to remain focused on unity and progress ahead of future elections. Speaking later, a senior NWC member from the Gov Bala Mohammed’s faction disclosed that Wike directed his supporters in the NWC led by Damagum to suspend Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) for opposing his interests in Rivers State and obstructing his control of the party structure at national. The source stated that Ologunagba and Ajibade (SAN) were suspended not only for the Rivers issue but also for their consistent criticism of Damagum’s management of party funds. The source stated, “The NWC has been divided for a while. The division was largely caused by Wike and Fubara’s conflict over Rivers structure. But the division became known to the public on Thursday after the rancorous NWC meeting.”